By Bri Frost, Director of Security Curriculum and Research at Pluralsight

There has been considerable news coverage in recent months playing up the term "AI-powered attacks." While this terminology amounts to little more than a buzzword, it has proven to be dangerous. The angle of many of these stories is that organizations need to shift their security focus - including budget and assets - to thwart AI threats and attacks.

However, the fact remains that AI is not creating cyberattacks as it lacks the inherent intent, decision-making capabilities, and context that human operators bring to the table. At its core, AI is designed to process and analyze large data sets, identify patterns, and optimize processes. There is no doubt that AI is a powerful tool with vast applications, but launching  a cyberattack requires human direction and oversight.

Successful cyberattacks are conducted using the same methods and tactics, and, in some cases, AI is leveraged to increase the scale and efficiency of attackers and threat groups. In 2025 and beyond, it will become increasingly important that organizations and the general public become more aware of how to recognize security threats and the best practices they can employ to protect themselves. This includes participating in cybersecurity and AI training to learn the skills they need to stay safe in an AI-driven world.

A cyberattack requires a purposeful strategy, an understanding of vulnerabilities, and often an element of social engineering, all driven by human expertise. While AI can assist in various stages of a cyberattack-such as automating specific tasks or enhancing the effectiveness of malicious software-it still relies on human actors to deploy, control, and adjust these tools for malicious purposes.

Moreover, the use of AI in cybersecurity will be increasingly leveraged in the future as a force for good. AI can detect threats, analyze security patterns, and improve defenses by identifying potential weaknesses before they are exploited. While AI requires human direction and cannot autonomously launch cyberattacks, its role in cybersecurity remains instrumental in both defense and attack.

Workforces that are trained in areas such as cyber threat intelligence, emulation of emerging cyber risks, and incident response, will future-proof their organization's ability to mitigate security breaches and safeguard digital assets. Armed with the proper knowledge and upskilling, IT professionals will utilize AI responsibly, enabling them to strengthen cybersecurity efforts, prevent malicious attacks and protect organizations from harm.

Defending an Expanding Number of Attack Entry Points

Organizations that use AI to strengthen cybersecurity must also develop more innovative security solutions to protect the increasing number of entry points for threats. As the technical landscape continues to evolve, remote work and the proliferation of tools that include IoT devices, wearables, and surveillance systems will continue to expand the potential entry points for cyberattacks.

Managing cybersecurity in an AI-dominated environment is an enormous undertaking, as vulnerable targets give threat actors more opportunities to do harm. In the years ahead, more focus will be placed on implementing firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and extended detection and response tools to thwart attacks on a network's edge.

It is critical for organizations to have a strong understanding of risk management frameworks and the ability to analyze emerging threats. Cybersecurity professionals need to be able to identify potential vulnerabilities across networks, cloud environments, and applications. This includes utilizing threat intelligence tools to predict and counter new attack vectors before they're exploited.

With the prevalence of flexible work options and cloud computing, securing network infrastructure will continue to present challenges. Cybersecurity professionals must be proficient in protecting networks and secure network design principles to prevent unauthorized access. As the number of devices and users increases, robust identity and access management practices are essential. To safeguard sensitive data in the years ahead, organizations will increase their reliance on strong authentication protocols, multi-factor authentication, and least-privilege access controls.

Cybersecurity experts must also understand how to secure an array of endpoints, such as laptops, mobile devices, and IoT devices, which are becoming increasingly targeted by cybercriminals. To monitor for and protect against threats, a multi-layered approach that includes deploying endpoint protection platforms and endpoint detection and response is critical. Segmentation and secure configurations reduce risk for IoT devices, and workforces should be trained on best practices to minimize vulnerabilities. This combination of strategies will enable cybersecurity experts to protect a range of endpoints from potential attacks.

Securing cloud environments is a top priority as organizations migrate to the cloud. Knowledge of cloud security principles, shared responsibility models, and encryption techniques are vital to protecting data stored and processed in cloud platforms. When future cyberattacks occur, organizations will need professionals who can quickly detect, respond to, and recover from the incident. In the coming years, forensics, incident management, and disaster recovery planning skills will be critical for minimizing damage and ensuring business continuity.

With the increasing sophistication of cyber threats, automation, and AI-driven tools will be essential for quickly detecting and responding to attacks. Cybersecurity professionals must be skilled in integrating and utilizing these tools to reduce response times and enhance security posture.

In 2025 and beyond, individuals and organizations must be empowered through training to build these essential cybersecurity skills. This includes courses and hands-on labs that address the full spectrum of cybersecurity challenges to enable workforces to stay ahead of evolving threats and better protect the growing number of entry points to their systems. Through continuous learning and skill development, organizations will create a resilient workforce capable of defending against both present  and future complex cyber threats.

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