NIST COVID-19 Cybersecurity Act

To require the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to disseminate guidance to institutions of higher education and nonprofit research institutions to help mitigate cybersecurity risks to COVID-19 related research, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the NIST COVID–19 Cybersecurity Act 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Director The term Director (2) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1001 (3) Resources The term resources (4) Research institution The term research institution (A) means a nonprofit institution (as defined in section 4(5) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 ( 15 U.S.C. 3703(5) (B) includes federally funded research and development centers, as identified by the National Science Foundation in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation issued in accordance with section 1303(a)(1) of title 41 (or any successor regulation). 3. Improving cybersecurity of institutions of higher education Section 2(e)(1)(A) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act ( 15 U.S.C. 272(e)(1)(A) (1) in clause (viii), by striking and (2) by redesignating clause (ix) as clause (x); and (3) by inserting after clause (viii) the following: (ix) consider institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 . 4. Dissemination of resources for research institutions (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall, using the authorities of the Director under subsections (c)(15) and (e)(1)(A)(ix) of section 2 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act ( 15 U.S.C. 272 (b) Requirements The Director shall ensure that the resources disseminated pursuant to subsection (a)— (1) are generally applicable and usable by a wide range of research institutions and institutions of higher education; (2) vary with the nature and size of the implementing research institutions or institutions of higher education, and the nature and sensitivity of the data collected or stored on the information systems or devices of the implementing research institutions or institutions of higher education; (3) include elements that promote awareness of simple, basic controls, a workplace cybersecurity culture, and third-party stakeholder relationships, to assist research institutions or institutions of higher education in mitigating common cybersecurity risks; (4) include case studies of practical application; (5) are technology-neutral and can be implemented using technologies that are commercial and off-the-shelf; and (6) to the extent practicable, are based on international standards. (c) National cybersecurity awareness and education program The Director shall ensure that the resources disseminated under subsection (a) are consistent with the efforts of the Director under section 401 of the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014 ( 15 U.S.C. 7451 (d) Updates The Director shall review periodically and update the resources under subsection (a) as the Director determines appropriate. (e) Voluntary resources The use of the resources disseminated under paragraph (1) shall be considered voluntary. (f) Other Federal Cybersecurity Requirements Nothing in this section may be construed to supersede, alter, or otherwise affect any cybersecurity requirements applicable to Federal agencies. (g) Funding This Act shall be carried out using funds made available to the Director.

Summary: NIST COVID-19 Cybersecurity Act This bill instructs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to consider institutions of higher education when facilitating and supporting the development of a voluntary, consensus-based, industry-led set of standards, guidelines, best practices, methodologies, procedures, and processes to cost-effectively reduce cyber risks to critical infrastructure. In using such authority, NIST shall disseminate and make publicly available resources to help research institutions and institutions of higher education identify, assess, manage, and reduce their cybersecurity risk related to conducting research with respect to COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019).