Current US government shutdown in October 2025 sparked widespread worldwide concern about cybersecurity vulnerabilities, particularly due to the temporary cessation of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) of 2015, which slowed federal funding for threat intelligence.
However, the true risk of a shutdown is not a government shutdown, but rather a clear reminder that effective cyber defense begins within organizations themselves. While many focus on the possibility of “cyber chaos,” the greater danger lies in relying too heavily on government intervention to protect cybersecurity.
Instead, organizations around the world must prioritize their own security measures, such as zero-trust identity systems, supply chain strengthening, and proactive threat monitoring, to stay ahead of evolving threats.
The Myth of Government as Cyber Shield
No government, be it in Washington, London or Brussels, can be considered the savior of cybersecurity. Organizations with strong internal defenses should be minimally impacted by events such as the US shutdown or proposed significant cuts to civilian cyber programs.
The problem of over-reliance on government support is not unique to the United States; this should become a global problem. Governments around the world, from the UK to the EU, are facing financial and operational constraints that may delay their ability to provide timely and adequate cyber support. It is noteworthy that the Sologate/Sunburst incident happened at SolarWinds in 2020The American government itself became a victim due to weak internal controls, not due to a lack of federal warnings.
The real threat lies in the mistaken belief that fixing vulnerabilities published only by government sources will provide security against attack. Cybersecurity should be viewed as an organizational responsibility rather than a public service.
Government Restrictions on Cyber Defense
Governments can help standardize threat intelligence and regulate basic cybersecurity controls, but the idea that they form the basis of global cybersecurity is misleading. The shutdown of the US economy reflects the challenges facing the international community. For example, in 2017 the UK National Health Service suffered from a major ransomware attack due to outdated security practices and slow patches, not government inaction.
During the 2018-2019 US lockdown, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) operated with only 10% of its workforce, but breaches did not increase as a direct result. This is because the vulnerability patching process is typically slow and lags behind updates from government threat sources, which can overwhelm security teams.
Additionally, vulnerability assessments often lack sufficient context, resulting in a distortion of the true threat landscape. Relying solely on government news about threats is not enough, nor is waiting for the weather forecast until after you've already been affected.
Creating Adaptive, Self-Defense
The main reason why even well-resourced organizations continue to experience hacks is not a lack of government support, but weak identity security controls and limited access to identity data. Near 80% all web attacks involve compromise of personal data, and 59% The breaches can be classified as threats involving personal data, highlighting that the level of the problem is often higher than reported.
While unpatched vulnerabilities can provide entry points for attackers, the underlying problem is often a weak identity security platform that allows credentials to remain undetected and roam freely within an organization. This recurring pattern shows up in many security breaches. To counteract this, organizations must strengthen their defenses by focusing on zero trust identity systems, strengthening the supply chain, and proactive threat monitoring.
Zero trust: more than a buzzword
Zero trust Personal security is not just a fashionable concept; this represents a fundamental shift in thinking. Each user must be considered a potential threat, which requires adaptive risk-based identity security controls to prevent compromise.
Strengthening identity security includes auditing identity and account providers, eliminating blind spots, ensuring least privileged access, implementing adaptive access control, and integrating real-time behavioral analytics.
As government services lag, zero trust adaptive identity protection is becoming a critical firewall against chaos, and AI attacks are expected to increase every year. 40% By 2027, vigilance and self-reliance will become increasingly important.
For example, one healthcare organization used predictive analytics to stop a ransomware attack before it could spread, demonstrating the importance of combining robust internal monitoring with external intelligence to proactively defend against threats.
A new era of cyber independence
The Trump administration's budget calls for a shift away from civilian cyber programs, encouraging the private sector to innovate and fill gaps. This trend is likely to continue globally as governments face budgetary pressures. For cybersecurity professionals and organizations, this transition should be viewed as an opportunity, not a setback.
Private firms, ISACs, and open source intelligence sources can offer credible alternatives to government-provided options. The closure reveals a fundamental truth: responsibility for cybersecurity lies with the organizations themselves, not the government.
Take control today
Organizations should not allow government shutdowns or policy changes to dictate their cybersecurity posture. If government failure is a concern, then that fear is misplaced.
Instead, the focus should be on creating a sustainable security ecosystem. It is critical to invest in zero trust security by implementing adaptive and comprehensive identity security platforms.
Organizations should also strengthen supply chain security and third party due diligence through regular audits and ensure continuous monitoring of exposure to threats both internally and externally. Expanding internal monitoring and integrating threat information from multiple sources will further improve security.
Ultimately, effective organizational cybersecurity is not about surviving government shutdowns, but about constantly outwitting and outmaneuvering adversaries who never rest. By acting now, organizations can turn government pauses into strategic advantages by achieving greater autonomy and agility in cyber defense.
John Paul Cunningham – Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Silverfortpersonal data security specialist.
