If you work in cybersecurity right now, there’s a good chance AI isn’t just another tool on your dashboard. It might also feel like a bit of a threat to your paycheck.
A new report from CyberEdge Group says 80 percent of IT security professionals believe AI will reduce the number of people needed to do their jobs. That’s not some vague, long-term fear either. Nearly half of them think it could happen within the next two years. That’s… soon.
Here’s the thing, though. It’s not like companies suddenly don’t need security people. In fact, they still can’t hire enough of them. The problem is the kind of worker they want is changing fast. A massive 97 percent of hiring managers now say they’re looking for candidates with AI skills. So it’s less about jobs disappearing entirely and more about the ground shifting under folks who don’t adapt.
Meanwhile, attackers aren’t sitting still. About 46 percent of security pros say AI is already helping create more advanced malware. Think attacks that can adapt, hide better, and slip past traditional defenses. That’s not exactly comforting.
And then you’ve got large language models thrown into the mix. According to the report, proprietary LLMs are now considered the hardest systems to secure. That tracks. Companies are rushing to deploy these tools, but security often feels like an afterthought.
Outside of AI, a lot of the usual headaches are still here. Teams are stretched thin, and the “lack of skilled personnel” problem hasn’t magically gone away. It’s kind of ironic when you consider all the talk about AI replacing workers. Companies need people. They just need a different kind of person now.
Ransomware continues to be a disaster too. About 64 percent of organizations were hit in the past year. More of them are paying, with that number jumping to 55 percent. Sure, more companies are getting their data back after paying, but let’s be honest, that’s not exactly a win.
There’s also growing concern around quantum computing. A huge 94 percent of organizations say they’re preparing for it in some way, and more than half are already putting plans together. It’s one of those things that sounds futuristic until it suddenly isn’t.
On the positive side, companies are opening their wallets. About 90 percent increased security spending this year, with an average bump of 5.6 percent. Boards are paying attention too, with more than half of organizations involving leadership at that level in cyber risk discussions.
Still, the AI angle is what really jumps out. You’ve got a tool that can make security teams more efficient, but that efficiency might mean fewer humans are needed. At the same time, it’s making threats more complex, which should increase the need for skilled defenders.
So yeah, it’s a bit of a paradox.
AI isn’t just changing cybersecurity. It’s reshaping who gets to work in it. And if you’re in the field today, it might be time to ask yourself whether you’re keeping up, or quietly getting replaced.
