AI is transforming cybersecurity at a pace few organizations have experienced before. New technologies are changing how work gets done, how threats emerge and how teams operate.
As AI capabilities continue to expand, cybersecurity professionals are increasingly asking important questions:
- How will cybersecurity jobs change?
- What new roles will emerge?
- What knowledge and skills will employers expect?
- How can professionals prepare for long-term career success?
These questions are exactly why ISC2 today launched the Cyber-AI Workforce Coalition. The coalition brings together technology providers, major employers and workforce-development organizations to define cybersecurity workforce readiness in the AI era.
What is ISC2 doing?
Through the coalition, ISC2 is convening employers, technology companies, workforce framework developers, academic institutions and other stakeholders to help define how cybersecurity responsibilities, roles and skills will evolve as AI becomes embedded throughout organizations.
Rather than simply analyzing trends, participants will work together to develop a toolkit that helps organizations understand how cybersecurity work is changing and how to prepare their workforce accordingly. The toolkit is intended to provide guidance for how employers hire, develop and organize cybersecurity talent, while helping practitioners identify and build the expertise organizations increasingly need.
Importantly, ISC2 recognizes that no single employer, technology company or institution can define the future cybersecurity workforce alone. By bringing together diverse perspectives, the coalition will help create a shared, practitioner-informed view of the skills, judgment and capabilities required in an AI-enabled world.
How does this fit with ISC2's broader AI strategy?
The coalition is one part of a larger effort by ISC2 to help professionals navigate the impact of AI on cybersecurity.
Across our community, members have consistently asked for practical guidance on AI adoption, AI security risks and the skills required to work effectively alongside AI-enabled technologies. ISC2 is responding through multiple initiatives, including AI-focused education, professional development resources and the development of the new AI security certification.
Together, these efforts are designed to answer two critical questions:
- What does cybersecurity work look like in the age of AI?
- How can professionals develop the knowledge and skills needed to succeed?
The coalition addresses the first question by helping define how work, roles and workforce requirements are evolving. ISC2's education and certification programs help professionals build and demonstrate the capabilities needed to meet those emerging requirements.
How will the coalition benefit members?
For ISC2's global membership, the coalition provides something especially important: a seat at the table as the future of cybersecurity work is being shaped. ISC2’s goal is to ensure cybersecurity professionals remain represented as AI changes workplace expectations, roles and required skills.
Members stand to benefit in several ways, including:
- Greater clarity on how cybersecurity jobs are evolving
- Better visibility into emerging skills and knowledge areas
- More informed career-development and learning decisions
- Stronger alignment between employer needs and workforce preparation
- A future workforce model informed by practitioners, not just technology trends
Most importantly, the coalition reflects ISC2's commitment to keeping people at the center of cybersecurity's future. AI will change how work gets done, but human expertise, judgment and accountability will remain critical to creating and maintaining a safe and secure cyber world. As organizations adopt AI, ISC2 is working to ensure cybersecurity professionals have both a voice in defining that future and the tools to thrive in it.
Stay tuned to ISC2 Insights as the coalition forms and helps us tackle this critical issue.
