Cybersecurity Skills Shift as AI Becomes Integral to Security Operations
Cybersecurity skills are undergoing significant changes as artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly integrates into security operations, according to Cisco's report on AI Agents and the Impact on Cybersecurity. The report found that 49% of security leaders consider hands-on experience working with AI agents a difficult competency for entry-level cybersecurity candidates to possess.
The study also highlights a growing demand for professionals who can combine technical expertise, practical AI experience, and human judgment. This shift in skills requirements is driven by the increasing reliance on AI-enabled systems in cybersecurity operations.
Cisco's research shows that cybersecurity work is moving from manual execution towards strategic orchestration, with people setting objectives, guardrails, and measures of success while AI agents execute tasks within those boundaries.