The top cyber security skills to have in 2026

The security professional of tomorrow needs a new toolkit. Not just technical know-how, but strategic thinking, regulatory intelligence, and the ability to work alongside AI co-defenders.

This article was written by Richard Beck, QA's Portfolio Director for Cyber Security, an experienced security professional, turned educator, with over 15 years in operational security roles. 

Here are the top skills you’ll need to stay ahead:

1. AI supply chain auditing

Shadow AI is everywhere. In datasets, models, APIs, and third-party components. It demands the skill to audit your supply chain for hidden risks, poisoning, backdoors, and compliance gaps. Because if you don’t know what’s in your AI stack, you don’t understand your risk profile.

2. Agentic AI-enabled detection engineering

Attackers are using agentic AI to behave like humans – but there’s a way to fight fire with fire. Build AI defenders that autonomously hunt, analyse, detect, respond, and recover. This is the next evolution of detection engineering, and it requires new knowledge and embedded AI capability.

3. Regulatory intelligence and control mapping

Frameworks like the EU AI Act, DORA, NIS2, and the UK CRA are moving targets, shifting rapidly to keep up with technology and pushing us to adapt at an equal pace. The critical skill here is translating these frameworks into actionable controls that really strengthen resilience, in a way that’s meaningful to your business. Compliance isn’t just a box for you to tick, it’s a strategic advantage that you mustn’t overlook. Neglecting the skills to maintain it is a weak spot.

4. AI system assurance and red-teaming

Break your own AI before someone else does. Yes, seriously. Stress-test models, simulate adversaries - find the weaknesses first. Security teams must adapt and start to use AI tools for augmented red-teaming, and expose vulnerabilities before they become headlines.

5. Identity threat engineering (synthetic + agentic-aware)

Identity threat engineering is no longer just about stolen passwords. In 2026, attackers use synthetic identities and AI-generated personas to slip past weak checks, while autonomous agents mimic human behaviour to escalate privileges and gain further access.

The new skill security professionals need to combat this is spotting what isn’t human, with behavioural analytics, dynamic verification, and agentic-aware controls. If you can’t tell the difference, your security is already compromised.

6. Adaptive critical thinking and complex problem-solving

AI accelerates everything, including misinformation. So, critical human thinking has never been more important. We need to evaluate, test assumptions, and seek additional sources before making decisions. In an AI-saturated environment, human doubt can be your firewall.

7. Security assurance and resilience

Resilience isn’t just a tech issue. It’s a business issue. In 2026, security assurance means understanding digital risk and hardening every link in your value chain - from suppliers to service delivery. This looks like embedding resilience in a way that’s proportionate, measurable, and aligned with business priorities. Because if one link breaks, the whole chain snaps.

8. Secure-by-design security

Secure-by-design means locking every door before the attackers arrive. In practice, that’s hardening your development pipeline so no one can slip in unnoticed. It’s checking every piece of software you use – because one compromised component can infect the whole system. And it’s protecting the build process itself, so malicious code can’t be injected while your product is being assembled. If security isn’t built in from the start, it’s already broken.

9. Human–AI teaming and crisis communication

As technology progresses and becomes a normal part of security operations, humans and AI will fight side by side against threats. Working effectively with AI co-defenders is a real new skill that teams will need to learn.

Communicating clearly during crises is crucial; we already know this in a human-only context, but the same applies to human-and-machine teams. When agents act in parallel and harmony with human colleagues, clarity saves time and business reputations. On the flipside, lack of effective human-machine collaboration could cost you that advantage.

10. Modern security architecture

Modern security architecture is about mindset as much as technology. Teams must hone the skills to design and secure systems using professional curiosity - always asking “what if?” before attackers have a chance to. This means building resilience into services while leading with strategic communication, so security is not only strong but properly understood within your business. Architecture today is as much about clarity and leadership as it is about code.

It’s my prediction that 2026 will be defined by a security paradigm where AI is both attacker and defender. That means that the skills above aren’t just ‘nice-to-haves' – they’re essential in order to stay secure, and stay ahead as a business in the new era of ai and security.

If you’re ready to shore up your security skillsets for 2026, get in touch with our team.