{"id":117277,"date":"2024-10-31T16:04:46","date_gmt":"2024-10-31T16:04:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intelligentcio.com\/eu\/?p=117277"},"modified":"2024-10-31T16:04:47","modified_gmt":"2024-10-31T16:04:47","slug":"isc2-study-finds-ai-boosts-security-despite-slowing-cybersecurity-workforce-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intelligentcio.com\/eu\/2024\/10\/31\/isc2-study-finds-ai-boosts-security-despite-slowing-cybersecurity-workforce-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"ISC2 study finds AI boosts security despite slowing cybersecurity workforce growth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Cybersecurity job satisfaction declines amid tightening job market, on-going staffing and skills shortages, and challenging threat environment.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ISC2 has released the 2024\u00a0<\/em>ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study<\/em><\/a>. The report finds that, despite the growing need for professionals, global workforce growth has slowed for the first time since ISC2 began estimating the workforce size six years ago, holding at 5.5 million people (a 0.1% year-on-year increase).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This contrasts with last year when the workforce grew 8.7% year-on-year despite declining economic conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study reveals that professionals are feeling the impact of declining investments in the cybersecurity workforce, including budget cutbacks and layoffs, affecting workforce satisfaction, the development of organisational security and the adoption of new technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the first time, participants cited \u2018lack of budget\u2019 as the top cause of their staffing shortages, replacing \u2018lack of qualified talent\u2019 as the top cause in the previous year\u2019s research. Additionally, 74% of respondents say the threat landscape is the most challenging they have experienced in the last five years, and job satisfaction has fallen from 74% in 2022 to 66% in 2024.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, 67% of respondents indicated they had a staffing shortage this year, while 90% reported skills gaps on their cybersecurity teams. More than half of those surveyed (58%) believe a shortage of skills puts their organisation at significant risk, and over one-third of respondents cited AI as the biggest skills shortfall on their teams. Professionals believe that AI and automation will have the most significant impact on their ability to secure their organisation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study also measured cyber professional\u2019s perspectives on the opportunities they see for growth. Study participants are optimistic about AI adoption and are focused on attaining the skills they need to be successful in an AI-driven workplace. 66% of study participants say AI represents career growth opportunities, while 54% say it will be helpful to their organisations\u2019 security operations. 51% believe AI will result in certain cybersecurity skills becoming obsolete, but two-thirds are confident their expertise will complement the technology, with 80% saying their cybersecurity skill set will be more important in an AI-driven world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs economic conditions continue to impact workforce investment, this year\u2019s Cybersecurity Workforce Study<\/em> underscores that many organisations are putting their cyber teams under significant strain, risking burnout and attrition as job satisfaction rates fall,\u201d said ISC2 Acting CEO and CFO Debra Taylor, CC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDespite these challenges, AI is viewed by professionals as a solution to strengthen their organisations\u2019 security and create new efficiencies for their teams. They also view effectively managing risk associated with AI adoption and its strategic importance to their organisation\u2019s future success as career growth opportunities for themselves and their peers. Organisations and cybersecurity leaders must recognise how AI can contribute to creating more resilient security teams, especially while economic challenges persist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyber professionals embracing AI<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To prepare for future opportunities, 73% of respondents are building their cybersecurity skill set, 52% are focused on becoming a more strategic contributor to the organisation, and 48% are learning more AI-related skills.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, 45% of respondents\u2019 teams are already utilising AI in cybersecurity tools, with the top five use cases being: <\/p>\n\n\n\n