SEC Proposes Rules to Combat Cyber-Attacks

On March 9, 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed rules on Cybersecurity Risk Management, Strategy, Governance, and Incident Disclosure by Public Companies. In an attempt to further protect against cybersecurity attacks and increase cyber transparency among issuers and investors President Biden signed into law the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022 (CIRCIA). Before CIRCIA goes into effect, it requires the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to complete mandatory rulemaking activities, to develop/publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), and a final rule. The SEC proposal and CIRCIA both have different implications, but both will increase cybersecurity regulations and procedures, even making employees more conscious of potential attacks.