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NIST has released Small Business Cybersecurity: Non-Employer Firms, a plain-language guide for businesses with one paid employee: the owner. Based on NIST’s Cybersecurity Framework 2.0, it offers practical steps such as updating software, backing up data and replacing default passwords, along with tools to plan and track the work.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology has published Small Business Cybersecurity: Non-Employer Firms, a plain-language guide to help self-employed people protect their business systems from cyberattacks. The resource adapts guidance from NIST’s Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 for owners who may have little cybersecurity experience and limited time or money to devote to the work.
The document, NIST Cybersecurity White Paper 50, focuses on “non-employer” firms: businesses with no paid employees other than the owner. NIST says more than 28 million U.S. small businesses fall into that category, spanning industries across the economy. The guide is intended to introduce the basics of a small-business cybersecurity program and give readers actions they can put into practice.
Among the recommended starting points are regular data backups and keeping software up to date. The guide also advises owners to change manufacturer-assigned default passwords on devices such as Wi-Fi routers. It explains why each action matters, how to begin, and what a business could do as it grows. For the password example, that later step could include procedures for securely managing devices and passwords.
The publication includes worksheets for identifying assets and tracking security actions, as well as three hypothetical business examples: a lawyer, an artisan and a consultant. NIST says the examples are intended to help readers apply the recommendations to their own work. The guide also points readers to relevant parts of the Cybersecurity Framework and additional resources.
Practical Security for Solo Owners
For a business owner working alone, security decisions and daily operations can fall to the same person. A compromised account, device or business record could disrupt work and affect client information. The guide addresses that practical constraint by breaking cybersecurity into specific actions, reasons and next steps, rather than assuming a company has dedicated technology staff.
NIST says many of the suggested measures can be taken without specialized expertise or major spending. That does not mean every business can prevent every attack, or that following the guide guarantees security. Its value is as a structured starting point: it can help an owner identify what needs protection and make progress without first needing to master technical terminology.
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A Narrower Update to Earlier Guidance
The new publication updates an earlier NIST resource titled Small Business Information Security: The Fundamentals (NISTIR 7621). NIST describes the new guide as narrower in scope: it focuses on protecting digital systems from malicious attacks and is specifically written for firms without other paid employees.
Its recommendations draw on the NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0, but NIST says readers do not need prior familiarity with the framework. The guide’s opening material introduces cybersecurity and its relevance to running a business, while later sections translate selected framework actions into steps intended for a novice reader.
“Because solopreneurs may not have cybersecurity expertise, we wanted to create a resource designed for them.”
— Daniel Eliot, a NIST official and one of the publication’s authors
Limits of the New Guidance
NIST says the publication is not comprehensive and cannot cover the needs of every solo business. The source material does not provide an evaluation showing how much the guide reduces cyber risk, nor does it establish that every recommended action will suit every business or technology setup.
The material describes the guide’s scope and examples, but does not specify a schedule for future revisions or report how many owners have adopted its recommendations. Readers may need additional advice depending on the sensitivity of their data, the systems they use and their legal or industry obligations.
Owners Can Start With Basics
The guide is available from NIST as Small Business Cybersecurity: Non-Employer Firms. Owners can use its introductory material and worksheets to review their devices and other at-risk assets, then work through the suggested actions. NIST’s examples offer starting points for adapting those steps to different kinds of solo businesses.
The next practical step for each business will depend on its needs and current security practices. NIST has not announced a specific follow-up milestone in the source material. The publication points readers to further framework references and resources for topics that require more detail.
Key Questions
Who is the NIST guide intended for?
It is written for non-employer firms, meaning businesses with no paid employees other than the owner. NIST uses “solopreneur” for this audience.
What does the guide recommend owners do first?
NIST highlights regular backups and updated software as useful first steps. It also gives examples such as replacing devices’ default passwords with unique, strong ones.
Does a reader need to know the NIST Cybersecurity Framework?
No. NIST says the guide assumes readers have no prior familiarity with cybersecurity or the framework, and explains concepts in lay language.
Does the guide cover every cybersecurity need?
No. NIST’s Daniel Eliot said it is not comprehensive and will not address every owner’s needs. Businesses may need additional guidance based on their systems and circumstances.
Source: nist.gov
