Improving Telework Cybersecurity for Small Organizations Act

Bill: 116-s-4920
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
Introduced: 2020-11-18
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Commuting

Computer security and identity theft

Computers and information technology

Consumer affairs

Department of Homeland Security

Educational technology and distance education

Elementary and secondary education

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Government Operations and Politics

Government information and archives

Health technology, devices, supplies

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Small business

Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2020-12-08
text: Star Print ordered on S. 4920.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-11-18
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Improving Telework Cybersecurity for Small Organizations Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to take certain actions related to improving telework cybersecurity for small organizations.</p> <p>Specifically, CISA must publish a resource on its website describing best practices a small organization may take to improve cybersecurity with respect to teleworking. The FTC must establish a program consistent with this resource to educate consumers and small organizations on improving the cybersecurity of technologies used for distance learning, telemedicine, and telework as a result of the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency. </p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4920 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 18, 2020 Ms. Rosen (for herself and Mr. Moran ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To improve the cybsersecurity of small organizations with respect to teleworking, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Improving Telework Cybersecurity for Small Organizations Act . 2. Small organization telework cybersecurity (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Commission The term Commission means the Federal Trade Commission. (2) Coronavirus public health emergency The term coronavirus public health emergency means the public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to section 319 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 247d ) on January 31, 2020, as a result of confirmed cases of COVID–19. (3) Director The term Director means the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. (4) Small business The term small business has the meaning given the term small business concern in section 3 of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 632 ) and any associated regulations promulgated by the Administrator of the Small Business Administration. (5) Small governmental jurisdiction The term small governmental jurisdiction means governments of cities, counties, towns, townships, villages, school districts, or special districts, with a population of less than 50,000. (6) Small nonprofit The term small nonprofit means any not-for-profit enterprise that is independently owned and operated and is not dominant in its field. (7) Small organization The term small organization means organizations unlikely to employ a specialist in cybersecurity, including— (A) a small business; (B) a small nonprofit; and (C) a small governmental jurisdiction. (b) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency telework guidance for small organizations (1) In general Not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director, in consultation with the Commission, shall publish a resource on the website of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency describing best practices a small organization may take to improve cybersecurity with respect to teleworking. (2) Contents The resource required under paragraph (1) shall— (A) include basic steps that have the most impact in improving the security of teleworking for a small organization; (B) recommend, as practicable, configurations and settings for commonly used software that can improve the cybersecurity of small organizations with increased teleworking; and (C) be consistent with— (i) relevant standards and guidelines published by the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology; (ii) guidance from the Director entitled Telework Guidance and Resources , issued on April 24, 2020, or any successor guidance; and (iii) Alert (AA20–073A) regarding Enterprise VPN Security issued by the Director on March 13, 2020, or any successor guidance. (c) Federal Trade Commission Program To Assist Cybersecurity Efforts Not later than 30 days after the publishing of the resource required under subsection (b), the Commission, in coordination with the Director, shall establish a program— (1) to educate consumers and small organizations on improving the cybersecurity of the technologies increasingly used for distance learning, telemedicine, and telework as a result of the coronavirus public health emergency; and (2) that shall be consistent with the resource required under subsection (b).