A New Cybersecurity Resource for Independent Business Owners
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has introduced a cybersecurity guide specifically designed for solopreneurs and self-employed professionals. Released on November 2, 2026, the publication aims to help independent business owners understand common digital security risks and build a practical cybersecurity strategy without requiring specialist technical knowledge.
Titled Small Business Cybersecurity: Non-Employer Firms (NIST Cybersecurity White Paper 50), the guide focuses on businesses where the owner is the only paid employee. This category includes freelancers, sole proprietors, independent contractors, gig workers and single-member limited liability companies.
According to NIST, the United States has 34.8 million small businesses, with 81.9% operating without paid employees other than their owners.
Making Cybersecurity Easier to Understand
Many independent professionals manage their own websites, customer information, financial records, devices and online accounts. However, limited budgets and a lack of dedicated IT support can make cybersecurity difficult to prioritise.
NIST's new guide addresses this challenge by explaining cybersecurity fundamentals in straightforward language. It uses the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0 as its foundation and helps business owners identify relevant security actions based on their needs and available resources.
The publication does not assume that readers have previous cybersecurity knowledge. Instead, it introduces the basic concepts and explains how security practices can support business operations.
Practical Steps to Reduce Cyber Risks
The guide highlights several measures that independent business owners can implement without major technical investment. These include:
Regular data backups: Maintain copies of important business information to support recovery if data is lost or compromised.
Software updates: Keep operating systems, applications and devices updated to address known security weaknesses.
Strong passwords: Replace default device passwords with unique and secure credentials.
Asset awareness: Identify devices, systems and information that could be exposed to cyber threats.
Risk management: Prioritise security actions based on the business's operations and potential exposure.
For each recommended action, the guide explains why it matters, how to get started and how the practice can evolve as a business grows.
Resources That Support Business Growth
NIST has also included practical worksheets and templates to help business owners track cybersecurity activities and identify assets that require protection.
The publication features three hypothetical business scenarios involving a lawyer, an artisan and a business consultant. These examples demonstrate how different types of independent professionals can approach cybersecurity planning.
Although the guide is designed primarily for businesses without employees, it also includes considerations for improving cybersecurity practices as organisations expand.
Why This Matters for the Small Business Community
Cybersecurity is no longer a concern limited to large companies. Independent professionals increasingly depend on digital platforms, cloud services, online payments and customer databases to run their businesses.
A security incident can disrupt operations, expose sensitive information and damage customer trust. By making cybersecurity guidance more accessible, NIST aims to help smaller businesses establish a stronger foundation for managing these risks.
The new publication offers a practical starting point for solopreneurs who want to improve their digital security while keeping their resources and technical capabilities in mind.
