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AI is changing cybersecurity work more clearly than it is changing the number of cybersecurity jobs. It can speed up some tasks and make others less central, while increasing the value of people who can apply security judgment, work with AI and cloud technologies, and communicate risk. Workforce surveys point to five shifts—but their findings are expectations and respondent reports, not proof that AI will cause net job losses or guarantee new opportunities.
1. AI is speeding up some tasks—and may make others less central
Cybersecurity practitioners see efficiency gains as a major effect of AI. In an ISC2 survey of more than 1,000 practitioners, 82% expected AI to improve job efficiency, while 56% expected it to make some parts of their jobs obsolete. Those figures describe what respondents anticipated; they are not measured rates of automation or job losses. ISC2’s survey page does not state its publication date in the accessed material.
In an earlier release, ISC2 described teams using AI tools to augment operational tasks, write reports faster, simplify threat intelligence and accelerate threat hunting. These examples suggest that AI can change how analysts spend their time: less effort on certain repetitive or time-consuming steps may leave more room for investigation and decisions that require context. They do not establish that every organization uses these tools or achieves the same results. ISC2 published those findings on October 31, 2024.
2. Existing roles are evolving, not simply disappearing
ISC2’s 2025 Cybersecurity Workforce Study describes traditional roles such as security operations center (SOC) analyst and incident responder as evolving. Respondents also anticipated roles emerging or changing as organizations respond to a more complex security environment. That supports a picture of work shifting within and around established jobs—not a claim that either occupation is disappearing or that a specific number of new jobs will result.
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The study included 16,029 cybersecurity practitioners and decision-makers across North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Its findings are broad in geographic reach, but they remain survey evidence rather than an employment census or a forecast for every employer. Read the ISC2 2025 study overview.
3. AI joins a wider mix of in-demand security skills
AI expertise is one part of a broader skills mix. In an April 17, 2026 analysis of findings from its 2025 workforce study, ISC2 identified AI and cloud security, along with risk assessment, application security and governance, risk and compliance (GRC), as pressing skill needs. Someone preparing for cybersecurity work should therefore consider how AI fits their chosen security area rather than treating “learn AI” as a complete career plan.
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ISC2’s analysis reported that 95% of respondents saw at least one cybersecurity skills need in their organization, and 59% described the deficiency as critical or significant. At the same time, 34% said their organization had the right number of cybersecurity personnel, while a further 44% reported only a slight shortage. The findings distinguish capability gaps from headcount: an employer can need stronger skills without necessarily needing more staff. ISC2’s analysis explains the study findings and skills priorities.
4. Employers seek human judgment alongside technical ability
Technical expertise does not replace the need to explain findings, solve problems and coordinate with others. In ISC2’s analysis of its 2025 study, hiring managers named problem solving (29%), collaboration (24%), communication (22%), curiosity (20%) and strategic thinking (16%) among sought nontechnical skills. AI and cloud security each registered 15% among the top technical needs.
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These are reported study results, not universal hiring thresholds or a ranking that applies to every role. They nevertheless show why a strong candidate’s toolkit may combine hands-on security knowledge with the ability to investigate ambiguous problems, work across teams and translate technical risk into useful decisions.
5. Learning and adapting become part of the job
When tools and role requirements change, developing the skills of existing employees is one way organizations respond. ISC2’s 2025 study and its 2026 analysis describe professional development and investment in current workers alongside hiring. Its respondents also reported difficulty finding people with the skills they need; ISC2 cautions that this does not by itself prove qualified people are unavailable in the broader talent pool. Some gaps may be addressed by helping existing staff build new capabilities.
A separate 2026 report from SANS Institute and GIAC Certifications summarizes responses from 947 global respondents, primarily cybersecurity and information-security leaders. It reports that 74% of surveyed teams said AI was changing team size and role structures, with 16% citing workforce reduction. The report also says concern about skill gaps outweighed headcount shortages among its findings. These results describe that survey’s respondent group, not every organization or region, and should not be combined with ISC2 percentages as though both studies sampled one population. SANS and GIAC published their report summary on March 11, 2026.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Will AI replace cybersecurity jobs?
The available findings do not establish that AI will replace cybersecurity jobs overall. They show expectations that AI can improve efficiency and make some tasks obsolete, alongside reports of roles evolving and skills needs changing. A task becoming easier to automate is not the same as an occupation disappearing, and a reported skills gap is not automatically a shortage of workers. Outcomes will vary with the work an organization does and how it adopts AI.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWhat cybersecurity skills should you learn for AI?
Start with the security work you want to do, then connect AI knowledge to that work. The reported priorities point to AI and cloud security as well as risk assessment, application security and GRC. Build practical security experience alongside those technical capabilities, and strengthen problem solving, communication, collaboration, curiosity and strategic thinking. The cited studies do not compare courses or certifications, so they cannot establish that a particular credential guarantees a job.
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