Whether you’re looking to break into the cybersecurity field or want to know how to advance in your current career with the end goal of becoming a manager or CSO, cybersecurity experts are recommending a combination of technical and soft skills for success, including adaptability and versatility.
According to a recent report by The Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) and Omdia, the most helpful actions one can take include getting basic certifications, networking online with other professionals, learning about advanced technologies, seeking out an internship, or getting an advanced degree in cybersecurity.
If you’re interested in reaching the C-suite some day, you’ll also need to develop your ability to lead teams and projects. The report notes that the most important skill a CISO can have is leadership (37 percent), followed by business skills (22 percent).
How to Address the Cybersecurity Skills Gap: Continuing Education and Adaptability
It’s no secret that AI is changing the way cybersecurity professionals work. The report notes that 83 percent of cybersecurity organizations are adopting AI to detect threats and automate workflows, with 68 percent saying the job has become more complex – resulting in a critical skills gap.
“AI will not close the cybersecurity skills gap on its own,” said Melinda Marks, Practice Director, Cybersecurity at Omdia and the study’s lead researcher. “Organizations getting the most from their security programs need to invest in their people first. Training, inclusion, and clear career paths are not soft benefits. They are what makes everything else work.”
The skills gap has overtaken headcount as the biggest challenge facing cybersecurity organizations. According to the 2026 Cybersecurity Workforce Research Report, organizations first identified skills gaps as a larger concern in 2025 at 52 percent. Now, the skills gap dominates at 60 percent, compared with 40 percent for staff shortages. Of these organizations, only 19 percent say their staff is “fully skilled.” About 35 percent say they have moderate skills gaps, 33 percent report minor gaps, and 13 percent say they have extreme gaps. These gaps lead to delayed projects, increased team burnout, and slower incident response.
“The inability to adopt new technologies affects 42 percent of organizations, while reduced monitoring capabilities impact another 42 percent. Perhaps most concerning, 27 percent of organizations report experiencing breaches as an impact of workforce skills gaps,” the report says.
If you’re an entry-level cybersecurity professional, getting a cybersecurity degree can definitely help you on the job hunt – but note that employers’ expectations are increasing. Traditional “junior” cybersecurity roles have largely been replaced by AI, which eliminates learning opportunities for those new to the industry. Entry-level employees used to spend their time learning by repetition – including analyzing threats and suspicious activity – and these tasks are now being automated, meaning that new cybersecurity talent must be ready to jump in and tackle bigger challenges. A recent Dice article notes that instead of hiring three entry-level cybersecurity professionals, organizations are more likely to hire one more senior-level expert to manage AI, further making the case for continuing education.
What Organizations Prioritize When Hiring Candidates
With the skills gap overshadowing many cybersecurity organizations, when it comes to hiring, 55 percent of organizations still cite technical capabilities as their most important consideration. But beyond technical skills, employers are also looking for:
- Attitude (37 percent)
- Aptitude (34 percent)
- Creative thinking (27 percent)
- Culture fit (26 percent).
“The question shifts from ‘What credentials do you hold?’ to ‘Can you demonstrate competency?’ This is where the gap between what organizations seek and how they validate it becomes critical,” the report says.
Given the rapidly-evolving workforce, you’ll have to be more adaptable and versatile across the board. Traditional cybersecurity roles used to fit into “offensive” and “defensive” skillsets, but this distinction is disappearing, according to a recent article in Hrtech.
“Cybersecurity professionals who build complementary skills across offensive and defensive domains are likely to be better positioned as roles continue to evolve,” the article notes. “In a rapidly changing environment, versatility is becoming a valuable career asset.”
Get Your Master’s Degree in Cybersecurity and Learn Practical Skills To Be Successful on the Job
If you’re ready to learn advanced cybersecurity skills you can implement on the job immediately, it may be time to consider continuing education in the form of a graduate degree. With Wisconsin Online Collaboratives, you can earn your master’s degree 100 percent online while working full-time, like Tyler Wester.
“The program helped me get up to speed quickly on a baseline cybersecurity landscape and dive into all these different focuses,” he says.
The Master of Science: Cybersecurity program offered by Wisconsin Online Collaboratives recently completed a curriculum revision to help students build their knowledge and specialized skills to achieve their career goals. The curriculum was recently streamlined into two tracks of study: Digital Forensics, which is intended for roles such as a cybersecurity engineer; and Secure Systems Design, for those interested in a cybersecurity management role. Students in the program also complete a capstone project, giving them a chance to put what they’re learning into practice.
Ready to learn more? Start your journey today and find out more about the program by contacting an enrollment adviser at 608-800-6762 or learn@uwex.wisconsin.edu.