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How exposed to AI is a Information Security Engineer?

Of the 20 tasks O*NET lists for information security engineers, 6 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 1 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
BISO (Business Information Security Officer)Cloud EngineerEngineerInformation Security AuditorInformation Security System EngineerInfrastructure Security EngineerSecurity AnalystSecurity Data ScientistSecurity EngineerSystems Engineer
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
20
tasks rated for this occupation
53%
hold a degree, from a survey of only 19
370k
people do this job in the US
13 of 36
least protected in computing and maths

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Reachable with a chat window today

6
  • Coordinate documentation of computer security or emergency measure policies, procedures, or tests
  • Develop information security standards and best practices
  • Provide technical support to computer users for installation and use of security products
  • Recommend information security enhancements to management
  • Review security assessments for computing environments or check for compliance with cybersecurity standards and regulations
  • Write reports regarding investigations of information security breaches or network evaluations

Only with software built on top

13
  • Assess the quality of security controls, using performance indicators
  • Conduct investigations of information security breaches to identify vulnerabilities and evaluate the damage
  • Coordinate monitoring of networks or systems for security breaches or intrusions
  • Coordinate vulnerability assessments or analysis of information security systems
  • Develop or implement software tools to assist in the detection, prevention, and analysis of security threats
  • Develop or install software, such as firewalls and data encryption programs, to protect sensitive information
  • Develop response and recovery strategies for security breaches
  • Identify or implement solutions to information security problems
  • Identify security system weaknesses, using penetration tests
  • Oversee development of plans to safeguard computer files against accidental or unauthorized modification, destruction, or disclosure or to meet emergency data processing needs
  • Oversee performance of risk assessment or execution of system tests to ensure the functioning of data processing activities or security measures
  • Scan networks, using vulnerability assessment tools to identify vulnerabilities
  • Troubleshoot security and network problems

Cannot be sped up

1
  • Train staff on, and oversee the use of, information security standards, policies, and best practices
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.