U.S. Chamber Releases Online Guidebook to Help Small and Midsize Businesses Stay Secure Online

Gathers Leaders for Cybersecurity Summit to Examine Top Issues

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce—in partnership with Bank of America, Microsoft, Splunk, and Visa—today released Internet Security Essentials for Business 2.0, a free online tool to help small businesses protect themselves from cybersecurity threats and make life more difficult for their digital adversaries. The online guidebook gives small and midsize businesses tools for protecting computers systems and responding to cyber incidents.  First published in 2010, this new version includes the latest recommendations on monitoring log data and securing payment information and continues to drive home the importance of assessing risks to business data.

“The online marketplace is the new Main Street in America, and it is vital that small businesses take the necessary steps—generally simple, low-cost steps—to improve their defenses,” said Ann Beauchesne, the U.S. Chamber’s vice president of National Security and Emergency Preparedness. “Understandably, many of them do not have the resources to hire consultants or dedicated IT personnel to develop and implement a cybersecurity strategy, which is why the Chamber has worked with its members to provide this guidebook on best practices.”

The National Broadband Plan estimates that 97% of small businesses use e-mail and 74% have a company website. Small businesses are more dependent on the Internet for their day-to-day operations than ever before. Small businesses handle an array of sensitive information such as customer data, financial records, and intellectual property that warrants protection from bad actors. Unlike larger enterprises, however, many small firms lack cybersecurity policies and have become targets for cyber criminals.

The report was released at the Chamber’s 2012 Cybersecurity Summit where leaders in the field examined issues of growing interest to Chamber members and the wider business community. Participants addressed how the public and private sectors can transform information-sharing processes to improve cybersecurity, what actions the business community is taking to protect its systems from cyber threats, and a range of international issues.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations