Fortinet Skill Gap Report: AI is Outpacing Philippines's Cybersecurity Talent Pipeline

 

 

Fortinet's latest survey reveals a widening gap between AI adoption and the cybersecurity talent needed to defend against increasingly sophisticated threats.

 Fortinet®, the global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, today released the 2026 Global Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report, revealing the emerging and persistent challenges organizations face as they grapple with ongoing cybersecurity skill shortages and the ever-evolving threat landscape. The Philippines survey’s key findings include:

 

• The lack of cybersecurity skills–stemming in part from insufficient investment in cybersecurity talent–remains a top cause of devastating security breaches.
• Although cyber defenders are effectively leveraging AI-powered tools, upskilling and reskilling are necessary to fully reap the benefits from these advanced technologies.
• Despite gaps in investment, intentional efforts are being made to attract and retain top-tier cybersecurity talent.

 

"AI is fundamentally changing how organizations defend against cyber threats, but it is also changing the skills security teams need to succeed. As organizations across the Philippines accelerate AI adoption, developing cybersecurity talent with expertise in AI, automation, and governance has become just as important as investing in new technologies. Strengthening cyber resilience requires a long-term commitment to people, continuous learning, and building the capabilities needed to address today's threats and tomorrow's challenges." said Bambi Escalante, Country Manager, Fortinet Philippines.

 

Amid High Stakes, Cybersecurity Must Be Prioritized

 

A lack of cybersecurity skills remains a top cause of devastating security breaches in enterprises. The survey revealed:

• The stakes are high: 93% or organizations in The Philippines report one or more breaches in the past 12 months. 52% say breaches cost them more than $1 million, while 70% said it took longer than one month to recover from a cyberattack.
• Lack of cybersecurity skills remains a top concern: For the third consecutive year, IT leaders cited lack of cybersecurity skills as a top cause of security breaches (71%). In The Philippines, 63% say that they need senior-level cybersecurity skills most of all, yet 55% struggle to get approval for additional cybersecurity talent. Adding to the pressure, 58% reported that executives and even Board members have faced penalties following cyberattacks, highlighting the growing business and leadership risks associated with inadequate cybersecurity preparedness.

 

Employees’ use of AI creates new cybersecurity challenges that Boards fail to understand. The report showed:

• AI deployment in the enterprise creates risk: Employee use of AI poses a risk that people don’t fully understand. In The Philippines, 65% of leaders believe their Board members are “fully aware” of potential risks from AI use.
• A new gap may emerge: As AI adoption continues, 78% expect an increased need for AI oversight and governance roles on cybersecurity teams over the next three years.

 

Despite the gaps in investment, investment in certifications is up year-over-year (YoY). Findings from the report demonstrated the following:

• Willingness to pay for certifications is up: 96% revealed they would prefer for an employee to get certified, up from 82% of respondents in the 2025 report.
• Dedicated initiatives to identify and nurture talent: To source talent from underrepresented groups, 97% use internships, apprenticeships, partnerships, and programs. 88% are reported to have formal hiring targets from underutilized talent pools. 

 

AI for Cybersecurity Creates Opportunities and Challenges

 

AI-powered cybersecurity tool adoption is widespread as decision-makers see its potential to support cybersecurity teams with their operations. The survey findings revealed:

• Broad adoption of AI-powered security tools: 94% of respondents in The Philippines are using or experimenting with AI-powered cybersecurity solutions. Skepticism or uncertainty about AI for cybersecurity is 36%, unchanged from last year’s report.
• AI supports today’s IT and security professionals: 91% say AI-enhanced security tools are helping IT and security teams be more effective and efficient. This is critical, as cyber defenders and cybercriminals are now equipped with the same technology; 49% of respondents cited defending against AI cybersecurity attacks as a top concern.

 

AI is widening the cybersecurity skills gap. At the same time, there are multiple efforts to overcome it. Survey respondents shared the following:

• Investment in skills development: 73% of respondents say their top recruiting challenge is finding cybersecurity talent with specific experience in AI. Today, 98% are likely to invest in AI-related cybersecurity training or certifications in the next 12 months.
• Implementing programs for reskilling: Organizations say they require staff with new skillsets to support their adoption of AI, including: AI model development (68%), security automation (61%), and AI tool oversight (56%). 73% of organizations are developing internal training or reskilling programs to support AI adoption, while 65% are procuring training or reskilling from industry vendors.

 

Business Resilience Requires Investment in Closing the Cybersecurity Skills Gap

Board and executive-level investment in a layered approach to cybersecurity–one that blends people, processes, and technology–is essential. Organizations should continue tapping into underutilized talent pools, and investing in training and upskilling to build and retain the expertise they need. This requires a coordinated approach grounded in three key pillars: raising awareness and education, expanding access to targeted training and certification, and deploying advanced security technologies.

 

To help organizations address the challenges they face as a result of the cyber skills gap, the award-winning Fortinet Training Institute provides one of the largest and broadest training programs in the industry to make cyber training and new career opportunities available to everyone, and includes a Security Awareness Training service for organizations to develop a cyber-aware workforce.

 

As part of Fortinet’s commitment to addressing this growing challenge, Fortinet is on track to train 1 million people in cybersecurity around the world this year, a pledge that began in 2022.

 

About the Fortinet Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report

• The survey was conducted among 60 IT and/or cybersecurity decision-makers in The Philippines. Survey respondents come from a range of industries; the top three business sectors include technology (15%), manufacturing (13%), and financial services (13%).

 

Additional Resources

• Download a copy of the 2026 Global Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report.
• Learn about the Fortinet Training Institute programs, helping address the cyber skills gap through upskilling and reskilling, and free training.
• Read more about the Fortinet Security Fabric.
• Visit fortinet.com/trust to learn about Fortinet innovation, collaboration partners, product security processes, and enterprise-grade products. 
• Read about how Fortinet customers are securing their organizations.
• Learn about Fortinet’s commitment to product security and integrity, including its responsible product development and vulnerability disclosure approach and policies.
• Follow Fortinet on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Subscribe to Fortinet on our blog or YouTube.