The long-awaited and much-discussed cybersecurity bill was introduced in the Senate today. It is titled the Cybersecurity Act of 2012, S. 2105. The authors of the bill have worked long and hard on this legislation and they should be applauded for their attempt to address this issue important to manufacturers.

Manufacturers through their comprehensive and connected relationships with customers, vendors, suppliers, and governments are entrusted with vast amounts of data. They hold the responsibility of securing this data, the networks on which it runs, and the facilities and machinery they control at the highest priority level. Manufacturers know the economic security of the U.S. is directly related to our cybersecurity. 

S.2105 recognizes the critical link between the expertise of the private sector and role of government and puts a heavy emphasis on collaboration between the two. The bill also calls for creating mechanisms that will encourage government sharing of timely and actionable threat and vulnerability information with the private sector. It addresses the issues of securing government-owned networks, streamlining existing cybersecurity offices, and dedicating significant attention to developing the next generation of the Federal cyber workforce.

While many of these provisions in the newly-introduced legislation have merit, the National Association of Manufacturers remains concerned about the new regulatory regimes created throughout the bill. The sponsors have said publicly there will be no new bureaucracies or heavy-handed regulation as a result of this bill. (continue reading…)