The Small Business Administration is rolling out a new $3 million pilot program to help small businesses develop stronger cybersecurity protections.
The Cybersecurity for Small Business Pilot Program, run through the SBA’s Office of Entrepreneurial Development, offers state governments and territories the chance to compete for grants and in turn use those grants to provide training, counseling remediation and tailored cybersecurity services to new and emerging small firms across industries.
“Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, small businesses have adopted technology at high rates to survive, operate and grow their businesses. As a result, cybersecurity has become increasingly important as now, more than ever before, small-business owners face cyber risks and challenges that could disrupt their operations and competitive advantages,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Guzman. “As we seek to build a stronger and more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem, we must innovate and provide resources to meet the evolving needs of the growing number of small businesses.”
The grants will be for up to $1 million to assist small businesses, and applications will be accepted from January 26, 2022 through March 3, 2022.
“The bottom line is we must do more to help small businesses combat cybersecurity threats, which continue to increase, evolve and inhibit,” said SBA Associate Administrator for the Office of Entrepreneurial Development Mark Madrid. “This pilot program will empower state governments to expand existing services, innovate, adapt to current environments, develop new resources, and scale solutions to assist more small businesses. Additionally, expanding access to underserved and underrepresented small business ecosystems will be a critical marker of success.”
Read the full story at Dallas Business Journal.
RECOMMENDED
GOVERNMENT & REGULATIONS
Guest column: Accessible small business support is here in Albuquerque
BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICES
PPP forgiveness dollars inch upward and here’s where Pittsburgh banks stand
BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICES
Regions launches commercial business development team
Guzman said in the fall of 2021 that the SBA was not just focusing on Covid-19 relief programs but on a number of issues facing small businesses, including the labor shortage, inflation as well as with cybersecurity, including the adoption of digital tools and protection against potential cyber attack.
