Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act Extended for 10 Years, Ensuring Continuity Until 2035

When you’re dealing with cybersecurity, the rules of the road matter, especially when it comes to how the government and private companies share threat data. The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Extension Act is short, but it does one very important thing: it hits the snooze button on an expiration date.

The Core Change: Keeping the Lights On

This bill doesn't introduce any new mandates, new fees, or new freedoms. Instead, it’s a pure procedural extension. It takes Section 111(a) of the Cybersecurity Act of 2015 (found in 6 U.S.C. 1510(a)), which was set to expire in 2025, and pushes that expiration date back a full decade to 2035. Think of it like renewing a critical software license that was about to run out.

Why the Timeline Matters

So, what exactly is being extended? The 2015 Act established a framework for how private companies—like your internet service provider, your bank, or the company that manages the power grid—can share information about cyber threats and defensive measures with the government, and with each other. This sharing is often considered vital for spotting widespread attacks early. For example, if a major bank sees a new type of malware attack, the 2015 Act’s provisions allow them to rapidly share the technical details with government agencies and other financial institutions without fear of certain legal liabilities.

By extending the timeline to 2035, this bill ensures that the existing infrastructure for threat intelligence sharing remains operational. If you work in IT security, run a small business that relies on cloud services, or just use the internet, this continuity is key. Letting the law expire would have meant scrambling to create a new framework or, worse, seeing a gap in the national defense against digital threats. The extension prevents that kind of operational hiccup, keeping the current system for cyber defense running smoothly for another ten years.