--- title: Eggnog Reflections description: It’s amazing how much can change in a year. 2018 will be the year when the new merges with the old. Blockchain, digital identity, GDPR, AI, machine learning… canonical_url: https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/eggnog-reflections/ locale: en last_updated: 2026-10-27 --- [Acronis Blog](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/) # Eggnog Reflections As I’m sitting here sipping on my eggnog, I’m thinking about how much changes in a year. These words were not even a common part of my vocabulary 12 months ago: ransomware, Bitcoin, ICO, digital identity, GDPR, blockchain, AI and machine learning. [Learn More](https://www.acronis.com/en/products/cyber-protect/) [![Image 2: John Zanni](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/4ebd2c6ab90855a20d45286557169382.png)](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/authors/john-zanni/ "John Zanni") [John Zanni](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/authors/john-zanni/) 1 min read Last updated 29 December 2017 As I’m sitting here sipping on my eggnog, I’m thinking about how much changes in a year. These words were not even a common part of my vocabulary 12 months ago: ransomware, Bitcoin, ICO, digital identity, GDPR, blockchain, AI and machine learning. Today, I use these words daily and most of them are directly related to my work: giving people control of and protecting their digital identity. At the same time, there are words that continue to be consistent each year: backup, data protection, family, and, of course, food and wine. 2018 will be the year when the new merges with the old. I am sure that at the end of 2018 I will be enjoying some good food and wine with my family, but some things will likely be different: * I will be paying for my Christmas gifts with Bitcoins (or some other cryptocurrency). * My annual ritual of organizing and arranging my affairs could include using the benefits of GDPR and the right to be forgotten. * The picture I want to show my dad, which I could never find, turns up with a quick AI-based search. May you all have a Happy Holiday and a great New Year. John [Cybersecurity](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/tags/cybersecurity/) [Cyber protection](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/tags/cyber-protection/) ## Written by ![Image 3: John Zanni](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/4ebd2c6ab90855a20d45286557169382.png) John Zanni [Previous post](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/faster-global-internet-speeds-good-news-cloud-users/) [Faster Global Internet Speeds Good News for Cloud Users](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/faster-global-internet-speeds-good-news-cloud-users/) [Next post](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/3-steps-reduce-work-stress-and-grow-2018/) [3 Steps to Reduce Work Stress and Grow in 2018](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/3-steps-reduce-work-stress-and-grow-2018/) About Acronis Acronis is a leader in AI-native cyber protection, unifying data protection, cybersecurity, IT operations and hybrid infrastructure to deliver business continuity, security and compliance with less cost and complexity. More than 21,000 service providers trust Acronis to protect over 750,000 businesses in 150 countries. Acronis is headquartered in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=acronis.com) ## Related stories Want to learn more? Read the latest stories featuring this solution on our blog. [Acronis Blog](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/) ![Image 4: stc Bahrain and Acronis partner to bring advanced endpoint security to businesses in Bahrain](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/blog-card/9600f3eea83b8f4e168ea6c1409c8c26.png) [stc Bahrain and Acronis partner to bring advanced endpoint security to businesses in Bahrain](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/stc-bahrain-and-acronis-partner-to-bring-endpoint-security-to-businesses/) We are proud to announce a strategic partnership with stc Bahrain, expanding access to advanced cybersecurity services for businesses across Bahrain. **October 26, 2026**3 min read ![Image 5: Introducing New Acronis CEO: Prakash Panjwani](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/blog-card/30cb571f6f1aaa131733e5727a4a250c.png) [Introducing New Acronis CEO: Prakash Panjwani](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/introducing-new-acronis-ceo-prakash-panjwani/) We are pleased to announce the appointment of our new Chief Executive Officer, Prakash Panjwani. A veteran cybersecurity CEO, Panjwani previously served as CEO of WatchGuard Technologies and SafeNet. **October 15, 2026**2 min read ![Image 6: Acronis expands MDR toward broader workspace protection](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/blog-card/18e90e89f5ec4ef0901f19008d4ccbf2.png) [Acronis expands MDR toward broader workspace protection](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/acronis-expands-mdr-toward-broader-workspace-protection/) Acronis is expanding the MDR service with capabilities that make this expertise easier to deliver and help partners address more risks. The developments build on a broader commitment to managed security: helping service providers protect the connected workspace while giving customers access to the expertise needed to investigate threats, respond effectively and maintain business continuity. **October 13, 2026**6 min read