AI Predictions Are Fueling Greater Cyber Up-Skilling Needs

It’s a Sunday morning and things are pretty quiet around the Fusilero household, which is especially noticeable now that the chaos of the holiday season has passed and the kids are back at school. So, I’m catching up on my reading and research – starting with Splunk Predictions 2024.  

Predictions: AI is in the Forecast

Annually, the Splunk senior leadership team shares predictions for the upcoming year, outlining trends and insights that equip business and technology leaders for future challenges. In the 2024 edition, a key focus is on AI's omnipresence, underscoring its inevitable influence on cybersecurity dynamics. These predictions, collated in Predictions 2024, are designed to prepare organizations for an AI-centric future. The three reports encompass executive insights, security, and observability, drawing from over twenty Splunk thought leaders.

• Data Privacy Concerns: The emergence of AI and large language models brings forth unprecedented data privacy challenges. How will businesses and regulators adapt to these changes?
• AI-Driven Cyberattacks: With cybercriminals exploiting AI, we anticipate novel attack forms, including sophisticated disinformation campaigns targeting commercial and economic stability.
• Collaboration: In response to AI-enabled threats, a closer integration of security, IT, and engineering is imperative to combat increasingly complex attack vectors.

Splunk Education: Preparing for the Impact of AI

I’m so grateful to work for Splunk, knowing that we are at the forefront of data analytics and cybersecurity. We have the products, the solutions, and the people positioned strongly to address the AI-centric transformations already affecting global businesses. Much like the shifting tech landscape, our learning programs and certification tracks continue to evolve and align with Splunk’s 2024 predictions about how cybercriminals will exploit AI. 

Our new Splunk Education e-book is designed to guide the cybersecurity learning journey in this AI-dominated era. Here are just a few highlights about how we are influencing the skills and training needed to identify and remediate new, AI-driven attacks and exploitations:  

• Cybersecurity Training Programs: Splunk Education is growing its cybersecurity-centric curriculum, combining instructor-led courses with self-paced, hands-on learning labs. The curriculum and strategy support the demand for new skills as cybersecurity professionals continue to be challenged by more sophisticated cyberattacks and strong compliance frameworks and governance. 
• Cybersecurity Certification Tracks: Acknowledging the necessity of skill validation – along with the need to have an even more expansive and integrated view of data – Splunk Education provides cost-effective certifications in cybersecurity as a way to validate skills and recognize industry experts.
• Free, Self-Paced Learning Opportunities: Committed to accessible education, Splunk offers free online cybersecurity courses based on expertise and interest levels. Additionally, Splunk Lantern remains an always-available, free resource to help users see what’s possible with their use cases and maximize Splunk's potential.
• Partnerships Academic Institutions: Through our Academic Alliance Program, we’re expanding our reach in non-profit universities, colleges, and schools – nurturing the next wave of cyber experts. This post-secondary program offers 21 free, self-paced courses with practical labs, faculty training and support, custom programming, and more. 
• Authorized Learning Partners: Splunk also helps learners experience Splunk Education Training and Certification locally through the Splunk Authorized Learning Partner (ALP) program – offering courses in learner language, timezone, and location.

Embracing 2024: Where Preparation Meets Opportunity 

The year 2024 is poised to be quite a transformative period. Use our Splunk Education e-book as your compass to navigate the uncertainty of tomorrow – because we all know that preparation is crucial if we want to excel in a digital age fueled by AI-driven cyber threats. Unfortunately, we just cannot rely on luck these days.