Cybersecurity teams are struggling with AI and cloud skill shortages

AI and cloud skills gap in cybersecurity: The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence tools and expanding cloud initiatives has created a significant talent shortage in the cybersecurity industry, particularly in these two critical areas.

• According to O’Reilly’s “2024 State of Security” report, nearly 39% of security team respondents identified cloud computing as an area where skills are needed but difficult to find.
• Approximately 34% of respondents pointed to a lack of talent in AI skills, especially regarding new attack vectors like prompt injection.
• The security community is still in the early stages of understanding AI-related threats and vulnerabilities, with solutions yet to be fully developed.

Cloud security challenges: The unique nature of cloud computing requires security professionals to adapt their skills and thinking to a new paradigm of infrastructure management.

• Cloud security involves applying concepts like access control and least privilege to servers and services that are often only controlled through vendor-provided APIs.
• Security professionals need to be able to think in terms of securing hundreds or thousands of virtual instances and develop tools that can work across multiple servers, services, and cloud providers.
• The stakes are higher in cloud environments, as a single error in any service can potentially compromise an organization’s entire infrastructure.

AI security landscape: The emergence of AI as a new category of threats presents both challenges and opportunities for the cybersecurity industry.

• Researchers are only beginning to understand the full scope of AI-related threats and vulnerabilities, with solutions still in their infancy.
• Initiatives like MITRE’s AI Incident Sharing tool are being developed to combat rising threats by allowing organizations to anonymously share data on real-world AI incidents.
• In Europe, the EU Artificial Intelligence Pact is promoting AI literacy and awareness for staff involved in deploying AI systems.

Bridging the skills gap: Upskilling existing talent is currently seen as the most effective way to address the cybersecurity skills shortage.

• Organizations are prioritizing ongoing training and education to keep their security teams up-to-date with the latest threats and technologies.
• Certifications, books, videos, and conferences are valuable resources for professionals looking to expand their skills.
• Popular certifications include CISSP, CompTIA Security+, CEH, and CISM, which are recognized by employers as indicators of valuable expertise.

Hiring trends and requirements: The cybersecurity industry favors candidates with a combination of traditional education and practical experience.

• Employers typically prefer candidates with a computer science education and experience in IT roles such as system administration, help desk support, and software development.
• While a degree is beneficial, it’s possible to secure a cybersecurity job without one if the candidate has relevant work experience and certifications.
• Participation in bug bounty programs and capture-the-flag competitions can supplement formal education and work experience.

Continuous learning and adaptation: The ever-evolving nature of cybersecurity threats necessitates a commitment to ongoing education and skill development.

• Laura Baldwin, president of O’Reilly, emphasizes that continuous, high-quality training is essential for safeguarding our digital future.
• The cybersecurity landscape is constantly changing, with new risks emerging as quickly as old ones are mitigated.
• Security professionals must remain vigilant and adaptable to meet the challenges posed by evolving threats and technologies.

Looking ahead: The future of cybersecurity skills: As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the cybersecurity industry must adapt to meet new challenges and opportunities.

• The coming years are likely to see a surge in AI-specific research, training, and certification programs to address the growing need for expertise in this area.
• Organizations will need to balance the adoption of new technologies with the development of corresponding security measures and talent.
• The ongoing skills gap may drive innovation in training methodologies and recruitment strategies within the cybersecurity sector.