SBA Looks to NJ Small & Mid-Sized Businesses for Cybersecurity Survey

On Oct 25, 2019

The U.S. Small Business Administration is working with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Information Technology Coordinating Council to attract respondents to a confidential cybersecurity survey for small and mid-sized businesses.

“Cyber-attacks are a growing concern for small business owners and our economy. The SBA is encouraging entrepreneurs to participate in this survey to help identify best practices that reduce threats to small and mid-sized business’ data and information, two items central to their operations,” said SBA Regional Administrator Steve Bulger, who oversees the agency’s operations throughout New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

DHS’ Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency and the ITCC are the primary agencies coordinating this survey with assistance from the SBA and its Office of Advocacy.

In 2018, the FBI reported the cost of cybercrimes reached $2.71 billion with almost $1.3 billion occurring from business e-mail/e-mail account compromises, approximately $270 million in losses from data breaches, $362.5 million in confidence fraud and $70 million in spoofing. In fact, New York and New Jersey were among the top 10 states where the most victims of cyber-crimes live according to the report.

“Cybersecurity is an issue that affects all businesses, but many small and medium businesses do not have the resources or the awareness to adequately protect their businesses. This survey will provide critical data to the federal government to assess these issues and our state of preparedness,” said SBA Regional Advocate Christine Myers from the Office of Advocacy.

“As National Cybersecurity Awareness Month comes to a close, I am encouraging New Jersey small business owners to consider taking this voluntary survey,” said SBA New Jersey District Director Al Titone. “According to IBM, small and mid-sized businesses are hit by 62 percent of all cyber-attacks, about 4,000 per day. Small business participation in this survey will go a long way in helping to inform and influence the critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Framework being developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, in addition to other federal agencies.”

Survey results are intended to produce data about which sources small and mid-sized businesses use to reference cybersecurity best practices, the specific assets and management practices of each company, such as physical access management, and the benefits and the cost of the NIST’s framework use and implementation. Cybersecurity awareness and current cyber risks to small businesses will also be covered.

The cybersecurity survey is available through Nov. 11. New Jersey small and mid-sized businesses interested in taking the survey, may access it here. Survey data will be collected and anonymized by ACT | The App Association. Questions or concerns regarding the survey can be addressed to Brian Scarpelli at [email protected] or Alexandra McLeod at [email protected].

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