5 Federal Cybersecurity Trends to Watch in 2025
The cybersecurity landscape is set to experience significant changes this year as the U.S. grapples with growing threats to critical infrastructure — including systems up in space.
Among the most impactful developments? The creation of an independent Cyber Force which could redefine how the U.S. Defense Department (DoD) protects and conducts cyber operations more effectively. This shift calls for fresh thinking about public-private partnerships, legal frameworks, and the integration of new talent from diverse backgrounds.
Here are the five cybersecurity trends we expect to make a real impact for the U.S. Federal government and DoD in 2025.
Trend #1: Defending U.S. Critical Infrastructure
With increasingly sophisticated attacks on the OT systems that underpin critical infrastructure, the incoming Trump 47 administration appears poised to take a more hands-on approach. Rather than relying solely on a patchwork of regulatory measures, the administration may look to revamp existing policies that would enable military cyber units to deploy on domestic networks for defense purposes.
This move would track with the growing momentum to classify space as critical infrastructure, a nod to the increasing reliance on Space-as-a-Service (SPaaS) technologies for public and government operations. Protecting commercial use satellites and ground systems requires a serious commitment to our cyber defenses, making commercial space assets a key focus for the broader national security community.
Trend #2: The Emergence of a Cyber Force
“America’s Cyber Force generation system is clearly broken,” finds a report published by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies states. “Fixing it demands nothing less than the establishment of an independent cyber service.”
Unlike conventional military units, a new Cyber Force would leverage a diverse talent pool. It would open doors for individuals with the aptitude and existing specialized technical expertise who may not satisfy the requirements of traditional military service members.
A fresh emphasis on technical know-how over physical presence reflects a paradigm shift in how national security is conceptualized and operationalized. By teaming up with industry partners, this new service would generate a larger and more diverse talent pool who are ready to contribute to our national defense.
Trend #3: Transforming and Harmonizing Federal Cybersecurity
CISA needs to evolve beyond its 2018 roots to tackle today’s most serious digital threats to ‘.gov’. They should focus more on threat hunting across Federal networks — especially in remote operational systems that are overshadowed by securing traditional IT networks. Addressing these vulnerabilities is critical to strengthening the ‘.gov’ ecosystem. The rise of unsecured, unmanaged IoT devices must be a core focus for the agency – and should include OT and IT networks within critical infrastructure.
At the executive level, harmonizing Title 10, 50, and 32 authorities governing military, intelligence, and National Guard operations could create a clearer framework for addressing cyber risks. This legal synchronization would empower the White House to act decisively and cohesively in defense of the nation’s digital infrastructure, streamlining our response to cyber threats. Simultaneously, prioritizing the budgets of Sector Risk Management Agencies (SRMAs) and instituting national-level cyber exercises would solidify preparedness and resilience against state-sponsored threats from adversaries like China.
Trend #4: Responding to the Escalating Scale of Cyber Threats
As adversarial cyber campaigns continue to become more prevalent, the U.S. must double and triple down on building resilience against groups, such as Volt Typhoon, Flax Typhoon, Salt Typhoon, et al. National cyber exercises – similar to military war games – will help to identify weaknesses and refine response strategies.
Between 2023 and 2024, Chinese-made IoT devices in U.S. networks grew by +40%, as reported in our research. Why have banned Chinese-devices grown in the US despite bans?
Ensuring fiscal support for SRMAs will also enable targeted investments across the most vulnerable sectors, helping to fortify their defenses against evolving threats. For example, Israel recently conducted a national cyber exercise that included 26 government agencies and 40,000 civil servants. In this scenario, a ‘cyberattack’ simultaneously impacted key critical infrastructure across transportation, healthcare, financial, government, supply, and the energy sectors.
Trend #5: Bridging the Talent Gap
The establishment of a Cyber Force presents a unique opportunity to expand the potential pool of talent. By decoupling technical expertise from traditional military roles, the DoD can tap into a broader workforce, including civilian cyber specialists, industry veterans, and emerging tech innovators. This approach is designed to maximize the contributions of individuals with the skills regardless of their ability to qualify for combat or physically demanding roles.
The nation will be better positioned to address the multifaceted threats of the digital age by:
- Integrating military cyber capabilities with domestic infrastructure defense
- Establishing a Cyber Force
- Fostering robust public-private collaborations
These advancements will help redefine the roles individuals and organizations play in the collective defense of critical systems, setting the stage for a safer and more resilient future for America and our partners.
Learn more about Forescout’s in-depth experience in Government solutions.
King is responsible for Forescout’s relationships with Congress and the Executive Branch. She leads all legislative functions, Federal policy, and strategic partnerships. She is a 2024 Foundation for the Freedom of Democracy (FDD) National Security Fellow and a Senior Fellow at Auburn University’s McCrary Institute.
This article originally appeared on VMBlog.com in December 2024.