Written by the CSA New Jersey Chapter:

Stanley Mierzwa, Ph.D.; CISSP, Director, Center for Cybersecurity, Transformational Learning and External Affairs, Kean University

Eliot Perez, Director, Information Technology, Township of Bedminster, New Jersey

Remember Y2K, in the context of the worry for many technologists and engineers working in the computer field? For many, it may feel like a lifetime ago, a sort of worrisome digital doomsday scenario that, thankfully, fizzled, perhaps because of all the preparations and public awareness brought upon the deadline. For me, I can remember being out on December 31, 1999 and when the clock struck midnight, I glanced around to see if the lights were still on, cars will still be moving, traffic lights continued to function, television continued to broadcast and live continued to simply function – it did. The Y2K worry and event also served as a wake-up call, inadvertently launching us into the modern era of cybersecurity.

Think about it: we now consider the consequences and impact if our critical infrastructure sector systems are not available due to a cybersecurity or information security breach and attack. Looking back over the past 25 years, the transformation of the cybersecurity and information security landscape has been nothing short of seismic. As a National Security Agency Center of Academic Excellence (CAE-CD) institutional point-of-contact, we are tasked with inspiring and training the next generation of cyber defenders – and there is a need in our nation given the rapid landscape necessity.

When we started in the Information Technology and the computer field almost nine years before the millennium bug concerns, cybersecurity was a whisper, not a roar. Sure, we had the basics – antivirus, firewalls, backups – but the focus was more on traditional IT issues. Incident response plans? Sophisticated intrusion detection? Security awareness training? These were largely afterthoughts for the majority of organizations – although we have to admit there were plenty of critical sectors that were probably way ahead in securing their technology systems and solutions. During Y2K, the internet was really beginning to take off, and boom, e-commerce was taking off, but the full-blown potential of cybercrime was still lurking in the shadows. We were building the digital world but hadn't fully grasped the risks that came with it.

Fast forward to 2025, and cybersecurity has exploded into a critical business imperative, a strategic advantage even for organizations. It's no longer just about protecting data; it's about ensuring operational resilience, maintaining customer trust, and safeguarding national security. So, buckle up as we take a whirlwind tour of the top 10 (plus a bonus!) cybersecurity milestones since Y2K – a journey that's been as exciting as it has been challenging. And remember, this is my take. I'd love to hear what you think we missed!

1. Malware and Botnets Unleashed:

iLoveYou, Code Red, MyDoom – these names still send shivers down the spines of seasoned IT professionals that were in the field back in the year 2000. These early malware attacks weren't just annoying; they were a harbinger of the botnet era, exposing the vulnerabilities of our increasingly interconnected world. These attacks demonstrated how fast such attacks could spread. Suddenly, the idea of a global network felt less like a technological marvel and more like a giant, tempting target. It feels like yesterday when I worked over an entire weekend to recover the organization I was working for at the time from a spread of iLoveYou.It is easy to understand why someone would open an email with this subject title!

2. Cybercrime's Reveal Party:

As the internet grew, so did the dark side. Phishing, online fraud, identity theft, ransomware – these became everyday threats, turning the digital dream into a potential nightmare.

3. From Lone Wolves to Organized Crime:

Hacking evolved from a solitary pursuit to a highly organized, often well-funded enterprise. The motivations shifted, too, from bragging rights to financial gain, espionage, and even political activism.

4. Nation-State Actors Enter the Fray:

Cyberattacks became a new form of nation warfare, with governments and state-sponsored groups targeting critical infrastructure, stealing secrets, and sowing discord. This elevated hacking became and remains a national security issue with potentially global consequences.

5. Malware Gets Smart:

Malware developers weren't standing still. As defenses improved, so did the attacks, becoming more sophisticated, harder to detect, and more persistent. The use of artificial intelligence has become pivotal in trying to proactively recognize attacks.

6. The Internet of Things (IoT) Explosion – and its Vulnerabilities:

From smart fridges, connected doorbells, and surveillance cameras to wearable trackers, everything became connected. This explosion of the Internet of Things created a vast new attack surface, with countless devices lacking basic security.

7. Cloud Computing's Silver Lining and Shadow:

The cloud revolutionized how we store and access data, offering scalability and flexibility. The cloud has provided opportunities for small start-up companies and larger organizations to leverage tools and solutions with relevant ease of implementation. But it also introduced new security challenges, requiring a shift in how we protect sensitive information. Despite the fact that a cloud solution can be hosted by a larger billion-dollar organization, it does not remove the necessity to implement and rollout using security as a design.

8. Regulations Rise to the Challenge:

HIPAA, GDPR, FERPA, FISMA, CCPA – these acronyms became part of the cybersecurity lexicon, reflecting a growing focus on data privacy and the need for stricter regulations. As an organization that sits in a particular sector critical to a nation, government regulations have emerged and provide more opportunities to secure systems and solutions. Couple this with insurance companies that require compliance in order to insure; this adds a reality check for organizational leadership.

9. AI: A Double-Edged Sword:

Artificial intelligence offers the promise of automated threat detection and response in the information security and cybersecurity world. This is promising and has pushed cyber defense companies to integrate AI. However, it also empowered attackers with new tools to create more sophisticated malware and phishing campaigns.

10. Cybersecurity Awareness Takes Center Stage:

Finally, the world recognized that cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility. Awareness campaigns and training programs became essential tools in the fight against cybercrime. We now even see online and legacy media commercials promoting the importance of cybersecurity awareness. Top that with all the many companies and membership organizations that include cybersecurity awareness in their monthly magazines and information-sharing outlets.

11. Bonus: The Rise of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS):

Connecting the digital and physical worlds through systems like smart trackers and PSIM introduced a whole new set of security challenges. While related to IoT, the potential impact on physical infrastructure makes this a category of its own.

12. What’s next?

I am confident there will be another innovation that will require focus and intention to cybersecurity. Will it be quantum computing, extended reality, brain-related interfaces, or biotechnology and precision medicine?

Where will we be with regard to cybersecurity, information security, and homeland security in 2050?