AI Security Spending Surges, Talent Gap Widens

Critical infrastructure cybersecurity is struggling to keep pace with AI adoption, as legacy operational technology systems become networked and attackers leverage machine-speed tools. While spending on AI-driven security is surging—with the share of organizations allocating 25% of cybersecurity budgets to AI rising from 9% to 48% in two years—there is a persistent shortage of professionals who understand both industrial control systems and AI-driven security. Experts note that agentic AI will augment rather than replace human operators, requiring a shift in job roles and skills. The gap between OT modernization and security investment is widening, creating urgent demand for hybrid talent. Key signal: Organizations dedicating a quarter of their cybersecurity budget to AI jumped from 9% to 48% in two years, yet talent fluent in both ICS and AI-driven security remains scarce. For hiring leaders in India, this signals a growing need for cybersecurity professionals with dual expertise in operational technology and AI. As global GCCs and IT services firms expand their security practices, they will compete for a scarce talent pool. The shift toward agentic AI in security operations means job roles are evolving; reskilling and upskilling programs must prioritize this intersection. Indian talent with strong engineering backgrounds can be trained to fill this gap, but companies need to act now to build pipelines before the demand intensifies further. Teksands view: The 9% to 48% jump in AI security budget allocation is a wake-up call. If you're not already hiring for hybrid OT-AI security roles, you're behind. The talent pool is thin globally, and India's engineering talent can be a competitive advantage if you invest in specialized training. Don't wait for the perfect candidate—build a reskilling program that combines cybersecurity fundamentals with AI and OT exposure. The future of security operations is human-AI collaboration, and the first movers will own the market.