National Cyber Security Alliance Executive Director Russ Schrader Addresses Cyber Challenges Facing Small Businesses at Senate Hearing
In testimony to the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Schrader highlights NCSA’s CyberSecure My Business™ program and how businesses can reduce their vulnerabilities.
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 26, 2018 ‒ NCSA’s Executive Director Russ Schrader testified yesterday at a Senate hearing on small business and introduced the organization to the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. His testimony at the hearing, which was titled “Preparing Small Businesses for Cybersecurity Success,” shared top cybersecurity concerns to the small business community along with valuable information about NCSA’s newest initiative, CyberSecure My Business, which is a workshop designed to empower non-technical organizations to improve their cybersecurity. Read testimony transcript here.
Schrader provided details about CyberSecure My Business, which translates the NIST Cybersecurity Framework into simple language and incorporates it into introductory-level, highly interactive workshops hosted in communities nationwide. CyberSecure My Business helps small businesses like local real estate offices, restaurants and plumbing supply companies, who may not be knowledgeable about cybersecurity, understand how to identify and protect their digital assets. In addition, he highlighted the Lock Down Your Login campaign, a key public-facing pillar of the multifaceted Cybersecurity National Action Plan announced by the White House in February 2016. Lock Down Your Login was developed by a coalition of industry leaders and like-minded organizations working in collaboration with government, who understand the importance of cybersecurity awareness and education. This campaign was built upon a broad, coordinated effort to increase awareness of our individual and collective roles in cybersecurity.
“We are extremely grateful to have the opportunity to increase awareness about the issues facing small businesses. NCSA is well recognized for our awareness and educational campaigns targeting consumers,” said Schrader. “We are thrilled for the attention and traction that will help entrepreneurs stay safer online and protect valuable intellectual property as well as employee and customer data. Safer small businesses not only protect themselves and their digital assets, they help larger businesses secure their supply chains and improve vendor management. It’s a ‘win-win’ for American business and consumers.”
NCSA was also recognized on April 24 by Jeanette Manfra, Assistant Secretary, Office of Cybersecurity and Communications National Protection and Programs Directorate, Department of Homeland Security, who cited collaborative efforts between DHS and NCSA in spreading cybersecurity awareness. In a hearing to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, Manfra spoke of DHS and NCSA’s work promoting cyber hygiene for small businesses with the goal of expanding reach. Read the hearing transcript here.
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