How IT professionals can thrive - not just survive - in the age of AI

Partner Content AI probably won't take your job if you work in IT. The key word there, of course, is "probably." In few other fields is the panic about AI as pronounced as it is among IT professionals who, after all, understand the disruptive power of technology. So, what can an IT pro do to stay relevant in the age of AI?

Some of the hype around AI gutting jobs is overblown, but not all of it. A U.S. Senate committee recently determined that AI would kill off 97 million jobs in the next 10 years. The caveat? Those figures came from ChatGPT. Studies now show that many large businesses are reducing or cutting junior and entry-level hires altogether and supposedly replacing them with AI.

The impact of AI on jobs is still uncertain

On the other hand, Yale University recently found that AI has had zero effect on jobs so far, despite some large companies citing it as a reason for layoffs. And MIT recently released a study showing that 95% of enterprise AI efforts have delivered zero return. Zero!

So, which is it? AI is going to put all humans out of work, or AI is overhyped and not delivering on its promise? At this point, nobody knows.

How IT pros can thrive in the age of AI

One thing that does seem sure is that anybody who wants to survive in IT in the age of AI needs to get really good at using AI. CompTIA found that job postings related to AI more than doubled from 2024 to 2025.

Where should IT pros focus their efforts in AI adoption? Cybersecurity is as good a place to start as any. AI is fueling a surge in cyberattacks, as the Acronis Threat Research Unit recently found. The need for cybersecurity experts isn't likely to decline soon.

Master core AI security competencies

Understanding how AI and machine learning models work is indispensable because AI now powers everything from next-generation firewalls to intrusion detection tools that detect threats based on behavior rather than content. Attackers can manipulate AI into misclassifying data and creating security breaches, so organizations will continue to seek out IT pros with expertise in auditing AI models for vulnerabilities.

Data science is another area of expertise that IT pros can explore if they want to stay relevant. Since it forms the backbone of effective threat detection and risk analysis, data science enables professionals to extract insights from threat intelligence and build custom predictive models. These skills are already essential for defending systems against AI-driven threats.

AI engines are built on natural language processing, so IT pros with expertise in that area can enable organizations to process vast amounts of unstructured data, automate phishing detection and identify vulnerabilities in code. The ability to use generative AI to simulate attack scenarios and develop defenses in controlled environments is also a high-value capability for IT employees.

Use AI to automate time-consuming tasks

One of the most significant benefits of AI is the ability to automate tasks that take time but offer relatively little value. IT pros will need time to develop and use sophisticated AI skills, so they're going to have to shift some of their more cumbersome responsibilities to AI.

By analyzing large data volumes to find patterns and anomalies, AI can automate or at least reduce the burden of performing log analysis, threat detection and vulnerability management. Other tasks AI can handle include compliance monitoring and report generation, incident response and triage, and policy enforcement.

Automating routine tasks with AI gives IT professionals more time for training, certifications and developing new value opportunities to monetize their work and shift IT from a cost center to a revenue driver. For decades, this has been the holy grail of IT operations.

Level up: Explore AI security certifications and training

Of course, many IT pros don't yet have or are still developing the AI skills they need to move forward in their careers. They'll also need to prove that they know what they're doing. Training and certifications are key for both efforts. For instance, CompTIA is launching SecAI+ in 2026, a standalone certification complementing existing Security+, PenTest+ and CySA+ credentials.

Other valuable certifications include GIAC Machine Learning Engineer (GMLE), which focuses on applying AI techniques in cybersecurity, and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) v13, which integrates AI tools into ethical hacking practices. The industry is shifting toward competency-based training using AI-driven cyber ranges that simulate unpredictable scenarios, with certifications evolving to incorporate scenario-based testing and open-book formats that mirror real-world problem-solving.

AI can set IT free

Rather than a threat to IT, AI is a catalyst for transformation. For IT professionals who embrace AI as an ally, staying relevant isn't the challenge - it's the opportunity. In fact, IT pros should embrace the opportunities AI provides to make their jobs easier and move forward in their careers.

Contributed by Acronis.