New FCC site to offer cybersecurity help for small businesses

The Federal Communications Commission announced a new online tool Monday to help small businesses guard against cyber attacks.

The Small Biz Cyber Planner, which will be released in November, was developed in a partnership between the FCC, the Homeland Security Department, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and several data security firms.

The tool will help businesses develop a strategy to prevent online breaches. Users will answer questions such as “Does your business use credit cards?” and “Does your business have a public website?” and the site will generate a custom plan based on the responses.

"We know that hiring cybersecurity experts is costly," FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said in a speech at the Chamber of Commerce headquarters. "This tool will be of particular value for businesses that lack the resources to hire a dedicated staff member to protect themselves from cyber threats. Even a business with one computer or one credit card swiper can benefit from this important guidance."

By hacking into a business's computers, criminals can steal financial information and trade secrets. The breaches can hurt a business's reputation and expose it to legal liability. 

Genachowski said criminals target small businesses because they often lack the strong cybersecurity standards of large corporations.

"Small businesses that don’t take protective measures are particularly vulnerable targets for cyber criminals. With larger companies increasing their protections, small businesses are now the low-hanging fruit for cyber criminals," he said.

According to a study released Monday by Symantec and the National Cyber Security Alliance, only 52 percent of small businesses have a cybersecurity strategy.

Former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, the co-founder of risk management firm The Chertoff Group, praised the initiative and urged small businesses to take cybersecurity seriously.

"Not to consider cybersecurity is a little bit like leaving your money around on a table and thinking that's not going to be a problem," Chertoff said.

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