Fortinet's latest global Cybersecurity Skills Gap report reveals that finding talent with AI expertise has become the single biggest recruitment challenge for security teams, with 60 per cent of organisations citing it as their primary hiring obstacle. The 2026 study, which surveyed security leaders across multiple sectors, also found that 63 per cent expect to create new AI oversight and governance roles within three years.
AI adoption outpaces talent supply
More than nine in ten organisations are already using or experimenting with AI-powered security tools, and 84 per cent say those tools are making teams more effective. Yet the rush to adopt has created a new skills deficit. Forty-two per cent of respondents said they would trust AI to handle core security functions independently, while a further 41 per cent would accept limited human oversight.
Chris Parker, director of government strategy at Fortinet, said the findings reflect a sector in transition. "A lot of people struggle with AI and the concept at the moment," he said. "Effectively, AI is an enabler which allows things to happen faster, sometimes more efficiently. But that's true for bad people, as well as good people defending society."
Literacy over specialization
Parker argued that not every employee needs to become an AI specialist. Instead, organisations should build a baseline of AI literacy across the workforce, comparing it to touch typing where most people simply need to use the tool effectively. The report found 92 per cent of organisations plan to invest in AI-related cybersecurity training or certifications over the next year, while 87 per cent expect their security teams to grow.
"If there's one recommendation I can give, it's to have a skills training programme for AI in parallel to adoption," Parker said. He noted that experienced professionals can adapt quickly with proper training, citing staff with 20 or 30 years of experience who have moved rapidly into AI use.
Breach causes remain cultural
For the third consecutive year, respondents identified insufficient cybersecurity skills (56 per cent) and poor security awareness (55 per cent) as the leading causes of breaches, ahead of technology shortfalls. Parker said increasing regulation is forcing boards to pay closer attention to skills maintenance.
"Those in accountable governance positions over AI linked systems clearly need to have adequate understanding of AI themselves and be aware where and how AI is used in their organisation," he said.
Broadening the pipeline
The report found 71 per cent of organisations now have formal targets for hiring from underutilised talent pools. Parker highlighted veterans transitioning from military careers, school outreach programmes, and work-experience schemes as overlooked sources. "A piece of paper doesn't necessarily tell you much about an individual," he said. "Often good talent can be missed."
Parker also pointed to managed services and specialist partners as a way to address the expertise shortage. "Accountability will always sit within one person in the organisation," he explained. "But the responsibility could well be delegated to several support and service organisations."
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