Tax breaks for beefing up security?

2013-08-01

Helen Martin

Virus Bulletin, UK

Editor: Helen Martin

Abstract

US mulls idea of offering financial benefits for businesses who super charge their digital defences.

The US government is apparently considering offering tax breaks and other incentives to businesses that make significant improvements to their digital defences.

Political news site Politico describes a government presentation it got its hands on from May this year in which tax breaks, insurance perks and other legal benefits were put forward as potential incentives for businesses to get their cyber defences in order and adopt the voluntary cybersecurity standards currently being drafted.

No official announcements have yet been made about the possible financial or legal benefits (and such incentives could require action by Congress in any case – which failed to approve any cybersecurity legislation last year). An update is expected later in the summer.

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