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When Cyber Visibility Fades: The National Risk of Losing the CISA 2015 Act—and How Organizations Can Stay Secure Without It

On October 1, 2025, the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (CISA 2015) quietly expired after Congress failed to renew it. The lapse might sound bureaucratic, but for cybersecurity professionals, it’s a major setback. 

The law—first enacted a decade ago—gave public and private organizations a safe, legal framework to share cyber threat intelligence with the federal government and each other. Without it, America’s collective visibility into cyber threats has dimmed, and the cost of silence could be significant. 

According to Cybersecurity Dive, CISA’s information-sharing program has been a key part of national cyber defense. It allowed private companies to report indicators of compromise and malicious activity without fear of liability. That data helped CISA and partner agencies track active threats, issue timely advisories, and mobilize defenses across critical infrastructure sectors. 

Now, without legislative renewal, that open channel is gone. 

What the CISA 2015 Act Did—and Why It Mattered 

When the CISA 2015 Act passed, it was hailed as a milestone for public–private collaboration in cybersecurity. The law: 

  • Enabled threat sharing between businesses and federal agencies with clear privacy protections. 
  • Provided liability shields for companies that voluntarily disclosed cyber incidents. 
  • Built trust between industries and the government, encouraging transparency over silence. 

That trust made the difference in stopping—or at least slowing—nationwide attacks. Shared intelligence helped identify patterns in ransomware campaigns, software supply-chain compromises, and nation-state operations. In short: it made cyber defense a team sport. 

The Visibility Gap: What Happens Without It 

Without CISA 2015’s renewal, organizations may become more hesitant to share threat data. The result? A fragmented cyber landscape where attackers move faster than defenders can respond. 

The loss of the law creates a ripple effect: 

  • Less visibility: Companies are less likely to report active threats, meaning fewer warnings for others in their sector. 
  • Slower coordination: Legal uncertainty increases the time it takes to share verified intelligence. 
  • Weaker national response: Government agencies like CISA, DHS, and FBI lose critical real-time insight into the private networks that make up the backbone of U.S. infrastructure. 

As Cybersecurity Dive notes, this gap “undermines years of progress in public–private information sharing,” and leaves the country more exposed to advanced persistent threats (APTs) and cybercriminal groups operating with state-level resources. 

The Dangers of Silence 

Information sharing is the connective tissue of national cybersecurity. When it breaks down, so does resilience. 

Without the legal clarity and urgency CISA 2015 provided, many organizations may default to isolation—prioritizing legal caution over collective defense. But isolation in cybersecurity is a vulnerability of its own. 

The dangers include: 

  • Blind spots: Threats that go unreported in one sector quickly spread to another. 
  • Longer response times: Without shared data, investigations and mitigations slow. 
  • Regulatory exposure: In industries like healthcare, finance, and energy, reduced information flow can also lead to compliance failures under frameworks such as HIPAA, PCI DSS, and NIST CSF. 

This legislative lapse doesn’t just weaken coordination—it emboldens attackers who thrive in the dark. 

Carson & SAINT: Guidance When Guidance Is Gone 

Even in the absence of federal coordination, organizations don’t have to navigate uncertainty alone. 

At Carson & SAINT, we provide the visibility, structure, and expertise that bridge the gaps left by shifting regulations and federal frameworks. Our Vulnerability Risk Management (VRM) solutions and cybersecurity consulting services help clients: 

  • Uncover and validate risk exposures through continuous assessment and testing. 
  • Translate technical findings into actionable strategy, aligning security with business outcomes. 
  • Strengthen internal threat sharing by building communication frameworks across teams and vendors. 

Where federal guidance has paused, Carson & SAINT steps in to keep organizations aligned with industry best practices and evolving threat intelligence. 

Staying Secure in a Less Secure World 

Cybersecurity doesn’t pause for politics. Attackers aren’t waiting for legislative clarity—they’re exploiting the uncertainty. 

If the expiration of the CISA 2015 Act marks a slowdown in national information sharing, businesses must accelerate their own visibility efforts. That means investing in internal risk management, building stronger vendor oversight, and partnering with experts who can see beyond the noise. 

At Carson & SAINT, we help organizations stay informed, connected, and resilient—no matter what happens in Washington. 

Let’s make sure your visibility doesn’t fade with the law. Contact us today to schedule a cybersecurity consultation. 

 

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Quinn Hopkins, Senior Marketing Manager

Quinn Hopkins serves as head of the Marketing Department. He graduated with Bachelor of Science in Marketing at Penn State University in 2020. With a comprehensive skill set encompassing digital marketing, branding, sales processes, SEO, e-commerce, email marketing, and trade shows, Quinn orchestrates a wide range of initiatives to elevate the company’s brand presence and drive customer acquisition. He plays a pivotal role in shaping the company’s identity and fostering customer loyalty. From spearheading innovative digital marketing campaigns to orchestrating impactful brand appearances, Quinn’s dedication to excellence propels the company forward in the competitive cybersecurity landscape, positioning us as a trusted leader in the industry.

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