Small Business Cyber Security Improvements Act of 2016

To improve cyber security for small businesses. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Small Business Cyber Security Improvements Act of 2016 2. Role of small business development centers in cyber security and preparedness Section 21 of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 648 (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking and providing access to business analysts who can refer small business concerns to available experts: providing access to business analysts who can refer small business concerns to available experts; and, to the extent practicable, providing assistance in furtherance of the Small Business Development Center Cyber Strategy developed under section 4(c) of the Small Business Cyber Security Improvements Act of 2016 (2) in subsection (c)(3)— (A) in subparagraph (S), by striking and (B) in subparagraph (T), by striking the period and inserting ; and (C) by adding at the end of the following: (U) to the extent practicable, providing access to external cyber security specialists to counsel, assist, and inform small business concerns in furtherance of the Small Business Development Center Cyber Strategy developed under section 4(c) of the Small Business Cyber Security Improvements Act of 2016 . 3. Additional cyber security assistance for small business development centers Section 21(a) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 648(a) (8) Cyber security assistance The Department of Homeland Security, and any other Federal agency, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, may provide assistance to small business development centers, through the dissemination of cyber security risk information and other homeland security information, to help small business concerns in developing or enhancing cyber security infrastructure, cyber threat awareness, and cyber training programs for employees. . 4. GAO study on small business cyber support services and Small Business Development Center Cyber Strategy (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term Administrator (2) the term association 15 U.S.C. 648(a)(3)(A) (3) the terms Federal agency small business concern small business development center 15 U.S.C. 632 (4) the term Secretary (b) Review of current cyber security resources (1) In general The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a review of the cyber security resources of Federal agencies aimed at assisting small business concerns with developing or enhancing cyber security infrastructure, cyber threat awareness, or cyber training programs for employees. (2) Content The review required under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) An accounting and description of all programs, projects, and activities of Federal agencies that provide assistance to small business concerns in developing or enhancing cyber security infrastructure, cyber threat awareness, or cyber training programs for employees. (B) An assessment of how widely utilized the resources described under subparagraph (A) are by small business concerns. (C) A review of whether or not the resources described in subparagraph (A) are— (i) duplicative of other programs; or (ii) structured in a manner that makes the resources accessible to and supportive of small business concerns. (3) Report The Comptroller General shall submit to Congress, the Administrator, the Secretary, and the association a report containing all findings and determinations made in carrying out the review required under paragraph (1). (c) Small Business Development Center Cyber Strategy (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Comptroller General submits the report under subsection (b)(3), the Administrator and the Secretary shall begin to work collaboratively to develop a Small Business Development Center Cyber Strategy. (2) Consultation In developing the strategy required under paragraph (1), the Administrator and the Secretary shall consult with entities representing the concerns of small business development centers, including the association. (3) Content The strategy required under paragraph (1) shall include, at minimum, the following: (A) Plans for incorporating small business development centers into cyber programs to enhance services and streamline cyber assistance to small business concerns. (B) To the extent practicable, methods for providing counsel and assistance to improve the cyber security infrastructure, cyber threat awareness, and cyber training programs for employees of small business concerns, including— (i) working to ensure individuals are aware of best practices in the areas of cyber security, cyber threat awareness, and cyber training; (ii) working with individuals to develop cost-effective plans for implementing best practices in the areas described in clause (i); (iii) entering into agreements, where practical, with Information Sharing and Analysis Centers or similar cyber information sharing entities to gain an awareness of actionable threat information that may be beneficial to small business concerns; and (iv) providing referrals to area specialists when necessary. (C) An analysis of— (i) how programs, projects, and activities of Federal agencies identified by the Comptroller General in the report submitted under subsection (b)(3) can be leveraged by small business development centers to improve access to high quality cyber support for small business concerns; (ii) additional resources small business development centers may need to effectively carry out the role of the small business development centers; and (iii) how small business development centers can leverage existing partnerships and develop new partnerships with entities of the Federal Government, States, and local governments and in the private sector to improve the quality of cyber support services to small business concerns. (4) Delivery of strategy Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Comptroller General submits the report under subsection (b)(3), the Administrator and the Secretary shall submit the strategy required under paragraph (1) to— (A) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives. (d) Prohibition on additional funds No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section.

Summary: (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Small Business Cyber Security Improvements Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make grants to small business development centers (SBDCs) in furtherance of a Small Business Development Center Cyber Strategy to be developed by the SBA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) submits a report that reviews the cybersecurity resources of federal agencies aimed at assisting small businesses. SBDCs shall provide access to external cyber security specialists to counsel small businesses. (Sec. 3) DHS and other federal agencies coordinating with DHS may assist SBDCs, through the dissemination of cyber security risk information and other homeland security information, to help small businesses in developing such cyber security infrastructure, threat awareness, and employee training programs. (Sec. 4) The GAO's cyber resources report must include: (1) an accounting, description, and assessment of the utilization of federal agency programs that provide cybersecurity assistance to small businesses; and (2) an assessment of whether the resources are duplicative of other programs or accessible to small businesses. The SBA and DHS must include in their SBDC cyber strategy: plans for incorporating SBDCs into cyber programs to assist small businesses; counsel and assistance to improve small businesses' cyber security infrastructure, threat awareness, and training programs for employees, including agreements with Information Sharing and Analysis Centers to gain awareness of actionable threat information that may be beneficial to small businesses; and an analysis of how SBDCs can leverage federal agency programs and develop partnerships to improve cyber support services to small businesses. The SBA's and DHS's strategy must be developed in consultation with entities representing SBDC concerns and submitted to Congress.