The Catalyst and Future Skills Centre launch a national initiative to explore how AI is reshaping early-career cybersecurity development

[June 23, 2026] (Brampton & Toronto, ON) — As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more integrated into cybersecurity operations and automates some entry-level cybersecurity tasks, leaders across Canada are questioning how early-career professionals will gain the foundational skills needed to navigate an increasingly complex cyber threat landscape.

Early consultations conducted by Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst (“the Catalyst”) at Toronto Metropolitan University suggest that while AI adoption varies significantly across organizations, many employers are already seeing shifts in how early-career cybersecurity work is performed. This includes increased reliance on AI-supported workflows, changing expectations for junior talent, and growing emphasis on analytical judgment, communication, and investigative reasoning.

In response to this preliminary work, the Catalyst has partnered with Future Skills Centre (“FSC”) to launch a new national research and workforce development initiative. Bringing together employers, industry leaders, educators, and workforce stakeholders, the initiative will investigate how AI-enabled workflows are changing entry-level cybersecurity work, identify emerging skills and training gaps, and generate practical insights grounded in real-world Canadian industry experience.

As part of the initiative, the Catalyst has begun conducting consultations with organizations across sectors to better understand how employers are adapting to these shifts and what support may be needed to strengthen long-term talent development pathways. While work is still underway, provisional and early insights suggest:

•     AI tools are increasingly being used to support triage, investigation, and operational efficiency within cybersecurity workflows
•     Early-career professionals are being expected to take on more analytical and investigative responsibilities earlier in their careers
•     Employers continue to place strong value on foundational capabilities such as critical thinking, communication, judgment, and investigative reasoning
•     Some organizations are concerned that opportunities to develop hands-on technical and analytical skills may become more limited as workflows evolve

Insights from the research will also inform simulation-based pilot activities delivered through platforms such as the Catalyst Cyber Range, helping explore how experiential learning environments may support the development of foundational cybersecurity capabilities in AI-enabled workplaces.

Rather than advancing a fixed solution, the initiative is intended to support ongoing learning, testing, and collaboration as industry and workforce systems continue to adapt alongside rapidly evolving technologies.

Key project activities will include:

•     Engaging more than 30 organizations through research and consultation activities
•     Hosting three regional employer and industry roundtables across Canada
•     Conducting a simulation-based pilot with 50 participants to explore emerging training approaches
•     Developing a Skills Transformation Framework for AI-Enabled Cyber Work informed by Canadian employer and workforce insights
•     Producing practical resources and recommendations for employers, educators, trainers, and policymakers

“AI is changing how work is performed across industries, and cybersecurity is on the front lines of navigating what this means for early-career learning,” says Alex Stephens, Director of Programs, Future Skills Centre. “This partnership with the Catalyst will help generate practical insights that employers, workers, educators, and workforce leaders can use to better understand these shifts, ensuring that the next generation of talent is equipped to thrive in an AI-enabled workforce.”

“Cybersecurity has always been about staying one step ahead of the threat, and with AI, that challenge is as much human as it is technological,” says Charles Finlay, Founding Executive Director of the Catalyst. “What we’re hearing from employers is nuanced; AI is not eliminating early-career cybersecurity roles, but it is changing how work is performed and raising expectations around judgment, reasoning, and oversight. As an industry, we need to better understand these shifts and explore how talent development pathways can evolve alongside them.”

To learn more about how the Catalyst is advancing cybersecurity workforce development across Canada, visit cybersecurecatalyst.ca.

This project is funded by the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Program.