Cybersecurity is the process of protecting internet-connected computer systems, such as hardware, software, and data, from cyber-threats. Cybersecurity is used by individuals and businesses to protect against unauthorized access to these computer systems when cyber criminals attempt to change, destroy, and steal sensitive data; extort money by making the systems unworkable; and interrupt business operations.

In South Carolina, cybersecurity is governed by a combination of state statutes and federal laws designed to protect computer systems and sensitive data from cyber-threats. The South Carolina Identity Theft Protection Act, for example, requires businesses and state agencies to implement reasonable security measures to safeguard personal identifying information and to notify individuals of security breaches that may have compromised their personal information. Additionally, South Carolina has adopted the South Carolina Insurance Data Security Act, which specifically addresses the need for insurance companies to develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive information security programs. At the federal level, laws such as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) and the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) provide a framework for criminalizing unauthorized access to computer systems and for facilitating the sharing of cybersecurity threat information between the government and the private sector. These laws work in tandem to ensure that individuals, businesses, and government entities in South Carolina have guidelines and obligations to follow in the pursuit of robust cybersecurity practices.