In a strong and unmistakable message, the White House recently urged federal agencies to keep their cybersecurity teams intact, even in the face of steep budget cuts. This wasn’t just a bureaucratic memo—it was a wake-up call for every organization, from law firms and universities to non-profits and manufacturers. If cybersecurity is “national security,” as declared by U.S. Federal Chief Information Officer Greg Barbaccia, then no organization can afford to treat it as an afterthought.

The Federal Wake-Up Call

In March 2025, as federal agencies prepared for possible mass layoffs, Barbaccia made headlines when he instructed agencies to spare their cybersecurity personnel. His email, first reported by Reuters, emphasized that cybersecurity staff were too critical to lose. The urgency came in the wake of staffing cuts at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which lost over 130 professionals in February. Though a judge eventually reinstated them, the damage to morale and momentum was real.

CISA has long served as the gold standard for federal cybersecurity, and its struggles are a stark warning: losing cyber talent puts infrastructure, data, and national stability at risk. If even the federal government is scrambling to protect its cyber teams, what does that mean for businesses operating without that level of oversight or funding?

Why Your Organization Should Pay Attention

Whether you're running a law office, managing a university’s IT systems, fundraising for a non-profit, or overseeing manufacturing tech, the risks are the same. You hold sensitive information—client records, donor data, intellectual property—and you’re a target. The National CIO Review described the White House’s move as a clear message to all organizations: cybersecurity is not a luxury; it’s foundational.

The cost of ignoring this can be staggering. IBM’s 2023 report pegged the average cost of a data breach at $4.5 million. That kind of financial hit could put a small- to mid-sized business out of operation for good.

What You Should Do Now

At CyberStreams, we help businesses across sectors—from Austin legal firms to Tacoma factories—secure their digital assets. The White House’s bold stance only affirms what we’ve been telling our clients for years: investing in cybersecurity is non-negotiable.

Here are three clear takeaways and next steps to fortify your business:

1. Hire, Train, or Outsource Cyber Talent

Build an in-house team, upskill your current staff, or partner with a trusted firm like CyberStreams. You need skilled defenders—not just software.

2. Audit Your Defenses

Run a Cyber Fit Assessment to understand where your vulnerabilities lie. From there, align your budget and strategy to close the most critical gaps.

3. Stay Proactive

Invest in tools like endpoint detection and response (EDR) to monitor threats in real-time. But don’t just “set it and forget it”—cybersecurity requires ongoing attention and active oversight.

Conclusion: A Line in the Sand

The White House’s message is clear: cybersecurity professionals are too valuable to cut. That same principle applies to your business, no matter the industry. Cyber threats aren’t slowing down, and neither should your defenses. Whether you’re safeguarding sensitive data or maintaining uptime in critical systems, one thing is certain—now is not the time to scale back on cybersecurity. It’s time to double down.

Need help building your cyber strategy? CyberStreams is here to support your next move.