I would say it makes an excellent analogy: A part of the whole (security) is prioritizing themselves and their needs in a way that makes the overall organism much less capable and effective.
Cancer.
Metaphor: a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
Cancer: a practice or phenomenon perceived to be evil or destructive and hard to contain or eradicate.
My usage is literal. Organizations that act this way have cancer. They suffer from it, they can be treated, they can die.
It's as real as it gets. I am using cancer in the body as an analogy for this form of cancer - but I am not using a metaphor.
I would say it makes an excellent analogy: A part of the whole (security) is prioritizing themselves and their needs in a way that makes the overall organism much less capable and effective.
Cancer.