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Representative Jim Baird, along with 13 other House colleagues, introduced the Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2019. This bipartisan bill will promote security standards for devices on the Internet of Things (IoT) across government and industry.

“I’m excited to be working with my colleagues to lead the way on security in this new and innovative field. The Internet of Things is going to reinvent the way we live, do business, and communicate across the globe. Ensuring that this network is safe from bad actors is of the utmost importance,” said Representative Baird.

The IoT is the growing network of internet-connected devices and sensors separate from what we consider to be normal internet devices. Despite the incredible capabilities and promising innovations of the IoT, many of the devices on the market today come with limited security features. The Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Lt. General Robert Ashley, recently described the exploitation of insecure IoT devices as one of the two “most important emerging cyber threats to our national security”.

“As Ranking Member of the Research and Technology Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the National Institute of Standards and Technology, I look forward to ensuring that the U.S. is setting the standard for cyber security in the Internet of Things,” said Baird.

The Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act would work to fix potential vulnerabilities by requiring the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to issue recommendations to ensure secure systems that are upgradeable. The Office of Management and Budget would then issue guidelines to each agency consistent with NIST recommendations and review those guidelines every five years. Any IoT devices purchased by the federal government would have to comply with those recommendations.

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