ISC2 launches coalition to address AI security job needs

ISC2 announced its Cyber-AI Workforce Coalition on 20 October 2026 to help employers and cybersecurity professionals respond to changing job needs as artificial intelligence becomes more widely used. CEO Scott Beale said a majority of members consulted during his first six months in the role wanted ISC2 to take a more active public role in AI safety and security.

The coalition is intended to bring together cybersecurity professionals, HR managers, CISOs, major employers, standards bodies and government representatives.

Beale said employers still lack clear, consistent ways to describe and fill roles combining AI and cybersecurity, with job descriptions varying between sectors such as banking and healthcare. The coalition will not create new standards or frameworks. Instead, it plans to produce toolkits to help employers define roles, recruit and develop staff, and help practitioners identify and build relevant skills. The work will address how cybersecurity jobs are changing, how employers describe them and how candidates can prepare.

The coalition is due to hold its first meeting in November 2026. Beale hopes its first toolkits will be ready by spring 2027, with some companies testing them in a pilot. ISC2 expects the tools eventually to be available beyond its membership, including for universities and certification bodies to adapt for their curricula. Beale also said ISC2’s planned AI security certification could help define some emerging roles, but would not be the only answer.