AI Will Change The SOC, But People Strategy Will Determine Its Success

InnovationAI Will Change The SOC, But People Strategy Will Determine Its SuccessByDavid Etue,Forbes Councils Member.for Forbes Technology CouncilCOUNCIL POSTExpertise from Forbes Councils members, operated under license. Opinions expressed are those of the author. | Membership (fee-based)Jun 02, 2026, 12:00pm EDTDavid Etue is Chief Strategy Officer of Cyberbit and a Senior Fellow at the National Security Institute’s Cyber and Technology Center. getty​We are still early in AI’s impact on the security operations center (SOC), yet it is already modifying how we work. The forthcoming changes in the technology stack will be profound, and so will the changes to people and roles. To address this future, you need a strategic plan for your team—and a strong partnership with people strategy to implement it.The SOC’s mission is to detect and respond faster than its adversaries, using a combination of automation and human expertise. AI will be a crucial evolution from rules-based automation, but it is not AI for AI’s sake.AI changes the SOC structure from a pyramid to a diamond.For 20 or more years, SOCs have been stratified in a pyramid model with tiers 1, 2 and 3. The AI-enabled SOC will disrupt this model, requiring changes in roles, talent sourcing, career paths, technical skills and training. The predominant discussion today is “AI will replace tier 1s,” which is imprecise and likely incorrect. Yes, junior roles will reduce significantly and shift their focus from tasks to skills, but AI replaces tasks, not people. Every role will evolve accordingly.With this shift, I believe the SOC will move from a pyramid to a diamond: fewer, more capable juniors, a stronger mid-tier and a small group of critical seniors. Security leaders will remain responsible for skills and governance, while every role will change to implement, improve or govern AI.AI changes role descriptions, not just headcount.The size and maturity of your SOC team will have a material impact on your technology ap...