‘AI will likely impact headcounts, cyber security demand in next five years’

KUCHING: The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to affect headcount in a company but it is also set to boost the demand for better cyber security and experts in cyber security in the next five years, a survey by Hays showed.

Its recently released Hays Global Cyber Security Report 2024 which was completed in late 2023 and features insights from over 1,000 cyber security leaders, from across 47 countries, explored how cyber security leaders are currently approaching recruitment and retention strategies for qualified cyber security staff, as well as the anticipated impact of AI, and their organisations investment plans.

Among respondents in Malaysia, 69 per cent expressed the belief that AI will impact headcount in the next five years, higher than the global average of 56 per cent.

In a separate poll conducted across six weeks in late 2023, 39 per cent of employees in Malaysia expressed concerns that their company was not

Cyber security professionals worldwide are bracing for the impact AI will have on their abilities to safeguard data and infrastructure.

Natasha Ishak

embracing AI sufficiently to stay relevant.

This corresponds to the recent poll where only 20 per cent of companies were training their workforce on AI tools, compared to 32 per cent of companies globally.

This is slated to accelerate significantly in the next two years as 50 per cent of companies are exploring plans to train their staff within this period.

Additionally, Malaysia reported a greater focus on upskilling, with 48 per cent of cyber security professionals locally reporting over six per cent of budgets being dedicated to talent development compared to 26 per cent globally.

It said, 54 per cent of professionals also expect their budgets to increase in 2024, higher than the global average of 40 per cent.

Despite this, 92 per cent of local respondents were more than slightly concerned that these increases would be insufficient.

Hays Malaysia regional director Natasha Ishak commented on the report, “Cyber security professionals worldwide are bracing for the impact AI will have on their abilities to safeguard data and infrastructure.

“These tools benefit both organisations and criminals equally, and how teams can adapt to evolving attacks will depend on whether their talent has been upskilled sufficiently.

“Leaders must exercise prudence in deciding where to invest critical funds to keep cyber teams updated with the latest threats.”