Educating for AI Cybersecurity Work and Research: Ethics, Systems Thinking, and Communication Requirements

Abstract: The present study explored managerial and instructor perceptions of their freshly employed cybersecurity workers' or students' preparedness to work effectively in a changing cybersecurity environment that includes AI tools. Specifically, we related perceptions of technical preparedness to ethical, systems thinking, and communication skills. We found that managers and professors perceive preparedness to use AI tools in cybersecurity to be significantly associated with all three non-technical skill sets. Most important, ethics is a clear leader in the network of relationships. Contrary to expectations that ethical concerns are left behind in the rush to adopt the most advanced AI tools in security, both higher education instructors and managers appreciate their role and see them closely associated with technical prowess. Another significant finding is that professors over-estimate students' preparedness for ethical, system thinking, and communication abilities compared to IT managers' perceptions of their newly employed IT workers.