The AI Revolution in Cybersecurity – Embracing AI Literacy: From Fear to Forefront
This post is the first part of the “Embracing AI Literacy” series.
Just a few years ago, documenting system security plans was an arduous trek. My days involved chasing Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for control details, translating engineer-speak into compliance language, and battling ever-evolving baselines. It was slow, manual, and fatigue-inducing. The global generative AI in cybersecurity market, now valued at nearly $2.45 billion and projected for significant growth, was then a distant concept.
Then, AI tools arrived, transforming my workflow. Suddenly, I could draft initial implementation statements, generate POA&M narratives, and crosswalk controls with a well-structured prompt. It was exhilarating and a bit terrifying. My role didn’t disappear, but how I did it changed overnight.
Curiosity led me to experiment: I tasked an LLM with interpreting a NIST control and drafting an implementation statement. It produced a draft that was 80% usable. More than speed, it understood the intent behind the control. My usual assessment prep felt sluggish by comparison. This aligns with NIST research showing LLMs can significantly boost efficiency and accuracy in such tasks.
That’s when the fear hit hard. The blog’s original mention of 38% of workers fearing their roles could become obsolete felt personal. Recent data paints an even starker picture: a January 2025 Resume Now survey found 89% of workers concerned about job security due to AI, with 43% knowing someone who lost a job to AI, and Forbes reporting 41% of companies planning AI-related workforce reductions. I was firmly in that percentage.
But history offers perspective. The tech community has panicked before—with cloud computing and DevOps. In each case, roles transformed rather than vanished. Cloud security skills remain in demand (ISC2), and DevOps fostered new efficiencies and job functions. We adapted and evolved.
My learnings are clear:
- AI doesn’t eliminate your job; it changes how you do it. Core expertise remains vital; AI automates repetitive tasks, freeing humans for strategic work. An ISC2 study found 82% of respondents optimistic about AI improving work efficiency.
- Embrace AI literacy to steer the ship, not just survive. This means understanding AI’s capabilities, limitations, and ethical use. A 2025 DataCamp report shows 69% of leaders now deem AI literacy essential, a notable rise.
- Ignoring this shift is risky. The pace of AI is relentless. A Darktrace report revealed 78% of CISOs see AI-powered threats significantly impacting their organizations.
The real threat isn’t AI, but misunderstanding and misusing it—letting hype or panic drive strategy. I’ve seen companies jump into AI without guardrails and get burned due to unaddressed risks like data quality issues or algorithmic bias. The number of Fortune 500 companies citing AI as a risk surged by over 470% from 2022 to 2023.
What we need is balanced literacy: genuine understanding beyond just tool usage. That’s our focus for the rest of this series—moving from shock to strategic empowerment in the age of AI.
Leave a Reply