In 2001, Cyberist® was just an idea — a trademark idea meant to define an elite standard for information technology professionals.
The Cyberist® title has never been generic, never a loose label. It has always belonged to a select group of professionals — the staff of Matrixforce — working together to enable and advance our clients’ business through technology. These aren’t just “IT people.” They are planners, opportunists, and problem-solvers, trained to the highest standard and accountable to that standard every single year.
Now, 15 years later, we can trace the evolution of the Cyberist® role through the people who made it real — and who have kept it relevant in a world where technology and threats change faster than ever.
2011–2012: From Security to Strategy
When we reached the 10-year milestone in 2011, Cyberist® recognition was strong. Clients understood the title, regulators respected the process, and competitors often tried to imitate without ever meeting the bar.
But starting in 2011, the conversation shifted from “Are we secure?” to “How does our security posture enable our growth?”
Matrixforce Cyberists stepped into this gap by becoming strategic partners. Using the Delta Method, they worked with executives not just to lock down systems, but to design technology roadmaps that made compliance and security an advantage in competitive bids, M&A due diligence, and customer trust-building.
In those years, many of our people began leading multi-year modernization projects — integrating cloud services, mobile workforces, and compliance automation without sacrificing performance or security.
2013: Cloud Becomes the New Normal
By 2013, cloud adoption had shifted from “should we?” to “how fast can we get there?” Microsoft Office 365, Azure, and other platforms became everyday tools for businesses of all sizes.
For Cyberists, this was a turning point. The perimeter-based security model we’d built in the early 2000s no longer applied to an environment where data could reside in multiple locations at once.
Our team adapted the Delta Method to focus on identity-driven security — controlling access based on user authentication, location, device health, and behavior, rather than relying solely on network boundaries.
Cyberists also became translators between cloud vendors and clients, ensuring that service-level agreements, shared-responsibility models, and regulatory requirements were fully understood and implemented.
2014: Rise of Ransomware and the Need for Resilience
2014 brought one of the most disruptive trends in cybersecurity: ransomware. Unlike earlier threats that aimed to steal data quietly, ransomware announced itself loudly — locking files and demanding payment.
Matrixforce Cyberists were already prepared. The Delta Method’s emphasis on tested backups, documented recovery procedures, and layered defense meant our clients experienced minimal disruption.
But the year also reinforced another truth: technology defenses are only as strong as the people who manage them. Our staff’s ability to respond calmly, communicate clearly, and resolve crises quickly became as valuable as the technical fixes themselves.
2015: Security Becomes Everyone’s Job
By 2015, cybersecurity had stopped being “the IT department’s problem” and become a business-wide priority. Breaches at major retailers, healthcare providers, and even government agencies made national headlines and put every organization on notice.
Matrixforce Cyberists led the way in shifting culture as much as systems. Security awareness training became a standing requirement, and the Delta Method evolved to include scheduled phishing simulations, policy audits, and executive briefings as standard.
Our people weren’t just patching servers — they were mentoring users, advising leadership, and coaching entire organizations toward better habits.
People Behind the Progress
It’s easy to talk about process, tools, and threats. But at 15 years in, what really defines the Cyberist® program at Matrixforce is the people who live it every day.
Problem Solvers
Cyberists thrive on complex challenges — whether that’s untangling a legacy system integration or identifying the root cause of an intermittent outage. They don’t guess. They use the Delta Method to test, verify, and document, ensuring problems are solved at the source.
Opportunists
Some of our staff have spent their entire careers reducing risk for client environments without a single major breach. That’s not luck — it’s vigilance. From 2 a.m. alerts to routine patch cycles, Cyberists manage critical systems with a discipline that only comes from annual training, licensing, and a shared sense of mission.
Translators
Technology jargon doesn’t help anyone outside IT. Cyberists are trained to explain issues and solutions in plain business language. This ability to bridge the technical and the operational has saved countless projects from misunderstandings and misaligned expectations.
Innovators
The best Cyberists aren’t satisfied with “good enough.” They’re constantly looking for ways to improve security, performance, and cost efficiency — whether that’s automating routine tasks, integrating new security analytics, or rethinking workflows for the cloud era.
Competitive Advantage Through People
In the past 15 years, many companies have invested heavily in tools — next-generation firewalls, AI-driven monitoring, and automated patching. But tools alone don’t create a competitive edge.
The difference comes from the people who know how to use those tools in the context of a client’s business objectives, industry requirements, and threat profile.
That’s where Matrixforce Cyberists excel. Our clients know that when they work with us, they’re not just buying a product or service — they’re getting a team of elite professionals who are:
- Annually licensed to ensure their knowledge is current.
- Trained in a proprietary, proven method for securing and managing systems.
- Accountable to documented results, not vague assurances.
Delta Method at 15 Years
The Delta Method continues to be the backbone of the Cyberist® role. Over the past five years, it has expanded to address:
- Cloud and Hybrid Infrastructure – Secure configurations, identity governance, and SLA compliance.
- Mobile and Remote Workforce – Device management, multi-factor authentication, and geo-fencing.
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP) – Policy-driven controls to prevent unauthorized sharing or exfiltration.
- Threat Intelligence Integration – Leveraging real-time data to anticipate attacks before they land.
- User Behavior Analytics – Detecting anomalies that indicate insider threats or compromised accounts.
Every Cyberist® is trained to apply this method consistently, whether they’re deploying a new system, troubleshooting an incident, or preparing an audit report.
Looking Toward the Next 15 Years
As of 2016, the Cyberist® title is no longer something that needs explanation — but it is something that needs protection. The temptation for the industry is to dilute terms once they become popular. That’s why the trademark, the licensing, and the proprietary Delta Method matter more than ever.
The next decade will bring:
- More sophisticated attacks leveraging automation and AI.
- Tighter regulations across industries and geographies.
- Greater integration between physical and digital security.
- Higher customer expectations for transparency and trust.
Matrixforce Cyberists will be ready because readiness is built into the role. Our people don’t just keep up — they set the standard.
Final Reflection
From 2001 to 2016, the Cyberist® title has grown from concept to culture. The proprietary Delta Method has evolved with the times, but the core commitment — annual licensing, elite training, and measurable results — hasn’t wavered.
What has changed is the recognition that the real power of the Cyberist® program lies in the people who carry it out. At Matrixforce, our staff are more than employees. They support our clients’ operations, are the enablers of innovation, and the reason we can say with confidence:
Security isn’t just a checkbox. It’s a competitive advantage. And for 15 years, Cyberists have been the people making it happen.
See how this principle drives real business results in Cyberist Identity.