The digital operations of government agencies nationwide stand as a vital foundation of public service. Protecting that foundation against security risks, however, calls for a fundamentally different investment calculation. Decision-makers need to weigh the value of cybersecurity software and infrastructure investments against the potential costs of cyberattacks.

At a time when AI-enabled and human-centered cyberattacks are escalating dramatically, it’s increasingly important to recognize this distinction as agency officials grapple with how and where to allocate scarce budget dollars.

Government agencies continue to confront mounting cybersecurity challenges as threat actors exploit AI-enabled tools and impersonation techniques to access sensitive personal, tax, and health data. The cost and disruption of data breaches and ransomware attacks can impact agencies for months while leaving lasting and incalculable reputational and political damage.