Cybersecurity is one of the biggest factors keeping CISOs up at night. To keep their infrastructure and data secure, security teams must manage an ever-increasing number of data sources, at petabyte scale. Even if the know-how to protect these assets exists, the lack of qualified talent puts a strain on the existing workforce, introducing breach opportunities.
With 40,000 cybersecurity positions remaining vacant last year in India alone, it is time for the cybersecurity community to shift its focus towards the adoption of AI technologies. Not only will this quickly fill resource gaps, but also allow more junior positions to safely assume greater responsibilities.
However, what we are seeing is that many CISOs find themselves caught in the never-ending cybersecurity talent marathon, unsuccessfully chasing the mirage of highly skilled cybersecurity talent in an attempt to close the gap. And they fail. The real key to filling this gap lies in artificial intelligence.
Malicious actors are increasingly using automated AI-powered tools to infiltrate every facet of networks at unprecedented speed. By leveraging this same technology, organizations can quickly evolve their cybersecurity operations to stay ahead of evolving threats and create a strong structural foundation to secure their future.
The power of AI in cybersecurity
With AI, businesses can detect and prevent threats quickly and effectively and secure a wider range of assets better than humans alone. They are no longer limited by the number of people in their security operations center or the expertise of their team. Instead, they have the ability to see things in real time and defend their environment against attacks in an infinitely scalable way.
But AI cannot act alone and automation has its limits. Humans will always be needed to decide what to do with data and the information it provides. AI can be used to support these people and enhance their capabilities.
A threat hunter’s job is to translate these concepts into queries. But this requires knowledge of complex languages and coding skills which are rare. AI-powered platforms enable security teams to ask complex threat and adversary hunting questions using natural language, and provide insights and recommended response actions in seconds that can be immediately executed. Beginning threat hunters, once limited in what they could resolve, can level up and veterans can become more efficient, effective, and strategic.
Building the workforce of tomorrow
By integrating AI into the training and development of current employees and new hires, companies can reduce the learning curve and make security operations more accessible to more talent.
Moving forward, this approach will enable cybersecurity decision makers to not only fill immediate vacancies, but also ensure a pipeline of well-trained professionals who understand both the nuances of network protection and strategic application AI tools.
Looking Ahead: The Role of AI in Training Cybersecurity Talent
The impact of AI on the workforce is already immense. We are more efficient and productive. We can do more with less. It is difficult to calculate the impact of all of this at the rate at which technology is evolving. But one bet is sure: in the race to attract and retain cyber talent, companies that leverage AI will take the lead.
