Agentic AI
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Leadership & Executive Communication
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Professional Certifications & Continuous Training
Cyber Education Needs to Go Beyond the Checklist to Prepare Future Professionals
Artificial intelligence is redefining how organizations work, learn and defend themselves. But while the tech is moving fast, training strategies meant to prepare security professionals often lag far behind. That gap isn’t just a novel problem for enterprises. It is persistent, pervasive and reshaping the very nature of cybersecurity careers.
See Also: OnDemand | Navigate the threat of AI-powered cyberattacks
I just had the pleasure of participating in a CyberEd.io webinar panel discussion related to emerging technologies being layered on data security practices. When we layer AI onto shaky security foundations, we don’t just introduce new risks, we expose and amplify every weakness we’ve been tolerating. What we came to understand through that discussion is the way we train people for these roles can be a critical vulnerability.
Security Careers Are Entering a New Phase
The traditional model – static certifications, annual compliance refreshers and generalized instruction – isn’t cutting it. Today’s cyber professionals must be agile learners. AI is evolving too quickly for anything less. Training needs to reflect that reality, and so do employers.
Companies that continue to treat cybersecurity training – particularly for their technicians – as a once-a-year, checkbox exercises are quietly sending a message: Skill stagnation is acceptable. But for job seekers, that’s a red flag. If you’re building a career in security, a new hire should expect role-based training, realistic simulations and ongoing professional development tied to real-world threats.
Domain Expertise Is Now a Differentiator
On the CyberEd.io panel, I pointed out that an AI misuse scenario in a healthcare setting may look vastly different from one in finance or education. That insight matters. The most sought-after security pros will be those who not only understand threat models, but also how those threats manifest in industry sectors.
This creates new opportunities for people with cross-disciplinary backgrounds. A former healthcare IT professional with security chops? A finance pro who understands governance and large-language models? These are the hybrid workers employers are starting to value – and need.
Running From the Bear
“You don’t learn to run from a bear by reading about it.” That metaphor, shared by panelist Richard Bird, CSO at Singulr AI, perfectly captures the drawbacks of passive learning. Real behavior change requires experience. That’s why simulation-based learning, hands-on labs and live scenario response training are becoming more valuable than a wall of certificates.
Security professionals need opportunities to practice responding to evolving threats -especially those involving AI misuse, misconfiguration or abuse of access privileges. Seek those opportunities out. Ask for them in interviews. If you’re in leadership – fight for them in your budget.
Human Behavior Is a Career Advantage
Another emerging career theme? The human layer. Technical skills matter, but human factors matter more than ever. The ability to teach others, assess risk in context and shape a culture of accountability is becoming a defining skill set, especially for leadership tracks.
Cybersecurity pros who can explain why uploading sensitive data into a chatbot is a bad idea, or who can build support for security controls across departments, will be critical to long-term resilience. But this skill set doesn’t appear overnight. It comes from cultivating empathy, communication and influence – traits that are often undervalued in technical roles. As AI reshapes workflows and introduces unpredictable risk vectors, professionals who can translate complex technical issues into business risk, lead cross-functional discussions and advocate for secure practices will increasingly become the glue holding security programs together. In short, if you can coach, persuade and lead with clarity, your career value rises exponentially.
The Degree Barrier Is Cracking
Panelist David Webb called out a lingering challenge: the four-year degree requirement for entry-level cybersecurity roles. In an industry with a growing skills shortage, that filter is increasingly out of sync with what organizations need: applied skills right now, not necessarily academic pedigree. Those two educational paths are not mutually exclusive but one does not automatically mean both.
Certifications and boot camps have certainly made the rounds as legitimate ways to build skills, but portfolio projects and verified hands-on lab experiences are gaining traction as equalizers. That’s good news for career changers, self-taught practitioners and anyone who didn’t follow a traditional path.
You Are the Investment
Cybersecurity is no longer just about protecting the business. It is the business. As AI reshapes the attack surface, the professionals who defend it need support, context and development that matches the stakes.
If you’re a security practitioner, your ability to adapt, specialize and lead ith judgment is your edge. If you’re building a security team, your investment in people is your best chance at resilience.
In either case, the training gap is not just an education problem. It’s a career story in the making.