Cybersecurity's Endless Loop: Led to Stagnation

Cybersecurity remains stuck in an endless loop of circular thinking that justifies inaction. This cycle is fueled by psychological resistance (fear of change), laziness (change requires effort), ignorance (education that indoctrinates rather than informs), and greed (fixing vulnerabilities threatens profits for companies built on exploiting security gaps with mitigation products). As a result, global cybercrime costs have surged to over $10 trillion each year.

The Fallacy of "If You Build It, They Will Come"

In cybersecurity, there’s a persistent myth that if a solution is developed, it will naturally be adopted. In 2008, a system was created to meet the most basic security requirement: restricting access to authorized individuals. But this solution addressed what many viewed as someone else’s problem. At the time, high-profile cyber breaches were rare, and many businesses opted to sidestep security regulations to protect short-term profits. Complying with regulations seemed unnecessary when ignoring them allowed quarterly profits to soar, even if this left security vulnerabilities unaddressed.

The Intelligence Community’s Resistance and the Government’s Role

By 2011, this solution was brought to the U.S. government, under the belief that the intelligence community—known for its long-term strategic vision—would embrace it. This assumption, however, was quickly disproven. Despite strong support from agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), and the Department of Defense (DoD), the technology faced insurmountable resistance.

A letter from the Commander of NRL encapsulated the issue: the solution was rejected due to a "Not Invented Here" mentality. Despite successful government trials proving the solution’s effectiveness, bureaucratic inertia took hold. This ongoing loop of inaction contributed to widespread vulnerabilities, culminating in large-scale breaches like the SolarWinds hack. Although SolarWinds was the most visible, it was far from unique; it exemplified a systemic failure in government cybersecurity due to an endless loop they chose to participate in.

The Cost of Regulatory Non-Compliance

As the government itself flouted its own cybersecurity regulations, private companies followed suit. Regulatory compliance, seen as an expensive and unnecessary burden, became easy to ignore. The short-term gains from avoiding compliance overshadowed the long-term risks. Companies were delaying action while exposing themselves to greater potential liabilities, leaving their systems open to inevitable breaches.

Breaking the Loop: Taking Action Before the Real Consequences Hit

The solution has been ready since 2011—proven, supported by government experts, and available for deployment. Yet, the cybersecurity industry remains stuck in an endless loop of inaction, driven by the false belief that “if you build it, they will come.” Breaking this loop requires decisive action, not passive expectation. “When you purchase, your security will be improved.”

The cost of remaining in this loop is staggering, over $10 trillion in cybercrime annually, and growing. It now costs more to stay in the loop than it does to break free. The longer organizations delay, the greater the financial and security risks become. Once a company chooses to break out of the loop and adopt a solution based on "integrity of action" and valid security protocols, their exposure to breaches and regulatory penalties is removed. The cost of breaking out is far less than the compounding cost of doing nothing.

However, those who wait too long are placing themselves in an increasingly dangerous position. As more companies embrace a real regulatory compliant solution, those that continue to reject the science will stand out, becoming even bigger targets in a shrinking pool of vulnerable entities. These "science deniers" will eventually find themselves consumed by hackers, who will capitalize on their outdated systems and ignored regulations.

In 2016, a VISA "cybersecurity expert" made the situation crystal clear: regulations that "disrupt the flow of business" are treated as guidelines, not requirements. "We applied a workaround." This isn’t just circular thinking, it’s was and is an active decision to sidestep the law. The crime is still being committed every day by every secure network with a public-facing login. As long as companies reject proven science and prioritize short-term gains over proper security, they will continue to expose themselves to massive breaches and legal fallout.

Breaking the loop now is the only way to secure a future where companies are not at the mercy of cybercriminals and regulatory agencies alike. The solution is ready, and the time to act is now—before the hackers and the law catch up.