Cisco report says AI is reshaping cybersecurity jobs

Cisco and the AI-Enabled ICT Workforce Consortium have published a spotlight report on AI and cybersecurity jobs, examining how AI is reshaping work in the field.

The document is the first in a new series of spotlight reports designed to provide more frequent updates on where AI is having the greatest effect on roles, skills and training needs. It focuses on how employers, educators and workers are responding as AI tools become more widely used in cyber jobs.

Drawing on labour market data and industry analysis, the report tracks shifts in job tasks and skill requirements. It presents cybersecurity as an area where AI is rapidly changing day-to-day work, automating some routine tasks while increasing demand for workers who can oversee systems, assess risk and handle more complex incidents.

Skills shift

The report says AI is changing the mix of skills needed across security operations, threat analysis and related roles. It highlights growing demand for expertise that combines technical security knowledge with judgement, governance and the ability to work alongside AI systems.

The findings point to a labour market in which job descriptions are evolving rather than disappearing outright. That includes shifts in entry-level and mid-level roles, where some administrative or repetitive work may be reduced while expectations rise around investigation, decision-making and managing AI-assisted tools.

The report also outlines implications for training providers and employers, including the need to update course content more often, place greater weight on practical experience and support workers in gaining adjacent skills that can help them move into revised cybersecurity roles.

Cisco has been involved in broader industry efforts to assess how AI is affecting information and communications technology jobs. The consortium brings together technology companies, advisers and education groups to study labour market change and identify areas where retraining and curriculum updates may be needed.

Workforce pressure

Cybersecurity remains a focus for workforce planning because many markets continue to face shortages of trained staff. The growing use of AI has added a second pressure point for employers, who now need people able to use new tools effectively while also understanding security processes, regulation and operational risk.

The spotlight format suggests the group aims to issue narrower, faster reports alongside broader research on AI and employment. That approach reflects the pace at which companies are reviewing staffing needs and revising expectations for technical teams.

For workers, the challenge is less about replacement than adaptation. For employers, the report underlines the importance of defining which tasks should be automated and which still require human judgement, particularly in areas such as incident response, policy decisions and the handling of sensitive data.

The publication adds to a growing body of industry research that treats cybersecurity as a test case for how AI changes professional work. Rather than presenting AI as a separate discipline, the report frames it as a layer being added across existing roles, altering how cyber specialists are trained, hired and assessed.

It concludes that workers and organisations that adapt quickly will be better placed to meet rising security demands in a labour market already under strain.