Hord Tipton of (ISC)2 believes federal agencies are feeling the need to digitize information systems and protect themselves from a new set of cyber threats at the same time, he told Federal News Radio in an interview aired Wednesday.

The nonprofit organization’s executive director told the station this security paradox puts officials in a predicament because both are key priorities in any enterprise.

“It becomes a catch-22 in that although they realize that the threats are on the increase… many of their security dollars and resources have been earmarked for compliance,” Tipton said on “In Depth with Francis Rose.”

A recent (ISC)² report found that majority of 1,200 security executives surveyed admit choices will have to be made to move forward.

“They’re having to make convincing arguments to the financial aspects of their companies and their governments and make good cases that this is a real problem and it needs some real solutions,” he added.