The SEC issued a Final Rule, Cybersecurity Risk Management, Strategy, Governance, and Incident Disclosure, to enhance and standardize cybersecurity disclosures by public companies that are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The amendments extend the disclosures about a registrant’s risk management, strategy, and governance in annual reports and require current reporting of material cybersecurity incidents. The Final Rule also requires a registrant to tag disclosures in Inline XBRL, beginning one year after the initial compliance date.
Annual reporting: Risk management, strategy, and governance disclosure
The Final Rule amends Form 10-K to require a registrant to provide information pursuant to the new Item 106 of Regulation S-K. Among other things, S-K Item 106 defines both a “cybersecurity incident” and a “cybersecurity threat,” as well as requires a registrant to disclose the following information:
- Risk management and strategy: Processes, if any, for the assessment, identification, and management of material risks from cybersecurity threats, and whether any of these risks, including any previous cybersecurity incidents, have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect its business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition
- Governance: (1) Board of directors’ oversight of risks from cybersecurity threats and, if applicable, identification of any board committee or subcommittee responsible for such oversight, including a description of the processes that inform the board or committee about such risks, and (2) management’s role in assessing and managing material risks from cybersecurity threats, including relevant expertise and communication with the board of directors
The Final Rule also adds Item 16K to Form 20-F to require similar disclosures for foreign private issuers.
Current reporting: Incident disclosure
The Final Rule adds Item 1.05 to Form 8-K to require disclosure of the nature, scope, and timing of a material cybersecurity incident, as well as the material impact or reasonably likely material impact of the incident on a registrant, including its financial condition and results of operations. Such disclosure on Form 8-K is required within four business days after a registrant determines that the incident is material.
The Form 8-K filing may be delayed, for a certain period, if the U.S. Attorney General determines that immediate disclosure of such incident would pose a substantial risk to national security or public safety. In such a situation, the Attorney General would need to notify the SEC about its determination in writing prior to the due date of filing Form 8-K.
A registrant is required to amend its initial Form 8-K to update its incident reporting by disclosing any further information that was either not determined or unavailable at the time of the initial Form 8-K filing within four business days of learning about the new information.
The Final Rule also amends Form 6-K to require a foreign private issuer to disclose information related to a material cybersecurity incident that was disclosed or required to be disclosed in foreign jurisdictions or to any stock exchange or security holders.
Compliance dates
Registrants are required to provide the new periodic reporting disclosures beginning with annual reports for fiscal years ending on or after Dec. 15, 2023.
Registrants, other than smaller reporting companies, are required to provide current reporting disclosures about material cybersecurity incidents beginning on Dec. 18, 2023 or 90 days after the amendments are published in the Federal Register, whichever is later.
Smaller reporting companies must comply with the current reporting requirements beginning on June 15, 2024 or 270 days after the amendments are published in the Federal Register, whichever is later.
Contacts:
Kendra Decker
National Managing Partner of Professional Practice, Audit Services
Partner, Audit Services, Grant Thornton LLP
Principal, Grant Thornton Advisors LLC
Kendra Decker is the national managing partner of Grant Thornton LLP’s Professional Practice within the firm’s Audit Quality and Risk group.
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Rohit Elhance
Partner-in-charge, SEC Regulatory Matters; Audit Quality and Risk
Partner, Audit Services, Grant Thornton LLP
Principal, Grant Thornton Advisors LLC
Rohit Elhance is a partner in SEC Regulatory Matters group, with more than 17 years of international experience serving large multinational and entrepreneurial companies in the areas of audit, risk advisory and transaction services.
Washington DC, Washington DC
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Cindy Williams
Managing Director, SEC Regulatory Matters
Managing Director, Audit Services
Grant Thornton LLP
Cindy is a managing director in the firm’s SEC Regulatory Matters group, with more than 15 years of auditing, accounting, and SEC reporting experience. She began her career in 2006 in the audit practice where she served public and private companies, primarily in the manufacturing and healthcare industries.
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