Valimail CEO Featured in Dark Reading on How CISA Layoffs Weaken Civilian Cyber Defense

Dark Reading recently published an op-ed by Alexander García-Tobar, CEO and co-founder of Valimail, titled “How CISA Layoffs Weaken Civilian Cyber Defense.” The piece explores how the recent staffing cuts at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) threaten the connective tissue between government and the private sector – and what enterprise cybersecurity leaders can do to fill the widening gaps in threat coordination and response.

In response to the layoffs, Escalate PR’s cybersecurity PR agency proactively developed and pitched a commentary framing the issue as a matter of national security and enterprise risk. The idea positioned García-Tobar as a credible industry voice able to speak to how reduced government coordination affects private-sector preparedness and trust in shared threat data. After reviewing the pitch, Dark Reading’s editors invited a full op-ed, which Escalate PR collaborated on closely with García-Tobar to develop and refine.

What the Company Said

“CISA isn’t simply another Washington bureaucracy; it’s the nerve center that connects government, industry, and critical defense infrastructure in a shared defense network,” said Alexander García-Tobar, CEO of Valimail. “When that coordination slows, every organization that depends on timely threat intelligence is left incrementally a little more exposed.”

In the piece, García-Tobar lays out a clear framework for how private cybersecurity teams can respond from joining industry threat-sharing groups to strengthening zero-trust and email authentication practices. His call to action centers on layered resilience, emphasizing that continuity, diversity, and collaboration are now core components of cyber defense.

Why It Matters

The federal cybersecurity workforce has long served as the connective hub for public-private information sharing. As those resources shrink, enterprises must take on greater responsibility for detection, coordination, and defense. García-Tobar’s commentary spotlights the practical realities of that shift and the leadership role the private sector must play in ensuring national resilience.

This feature illustrates Escalate PR’s senior-led approach to cybersecurity communications strategies: anticipating policy-driven storylines, developing expert commentary before the conversation peaks, and securing placements in top industry publications that shape the cybersecurity narrative.

Want to Learn More?

You can read the full article on Dark Reading’s website: https://www.darkreading.com/cybersecurity-operations/cisa-layoffs-weaken-civilian-cyber-defense

About Escalate PR’s Cybersecurity PR Agency

Escalate PR’s cybersecurity practice is built and led by senior communicators with decades of experience working across the threat intelligence, identity management, zero-trust, and DevSecOps landscape.

We work with leading brands and emerging innovators including Valimail to help them:

• Build visibility in the right cybersecurity and national conversations
• Position executives as trusted experts in top-tier and industry media
• Translate technical leadership into thought leadership that drives engagement and growth
• Integrate PR and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) strategies to maximize visibility across both traditional and AI-driven platforms

Our approach combines deep technical understanding with modern communications strategy ensuring that every piece of earned coverage helps shape the narrative around the future of security and trust.