How Rising Professionals Can Obtain Coveted Expertise in Emerging Tech

At a time when enterprises are racing to experiment with fast-growing artificial intelligence capabilities, cloud computing is increasingly relied upon for organizations to operate efficiently and connected devices are proliferating at a staggering pace, harnessing emerging technology is becoming a leading priority for companies in all sectors and geographies.

That means companies are on the lookout for professionals with emerging technology knowledge and skills. Consider:

• Two in three businesses expect artificial intelligence to increase their organization’s productivity, according to a Forbes Advisor survey.
• More than 85 percent of employees believe they will need training to address how AI will change their jobs, but less than 15 percent have received any, according to Boston Consulting Group Inc.
• Out of 137 IT executives surveyed by OpsRamp, 115 expressed plans to migrate more workloads to the cloud in the next two years.

The impact of artificial intelligence on the current business landscape – and the anticipated even greater impact of AI in the years to come – is especially striking. As ISACA’s white paper, The Promise and Peril of the AI Revolution: Managing Risk, indicates, organizations need to act with urgency in hiring and cultivating professionals capable of assessing AI risks and opportunities alike.

“The breakneck pace of the market – and the calls for regulation – may convince leaders to pause before official AI adoption or strategy work,” according to the white paper. “But as with so many technologies, users have already surged ahead, creating a movement that demands action now. Analysis and action cannot wait, and the organizations that act fast will create the strongest foundation and prosper the most from this new era of artificial intelligence.”

Whether it is AI, cloud platforms, blockchain, Internet of Things devices, or other emerging and maturing technologies, a common thread is that organizations are looking for innovative ways to leverage data – gather it, analyze it, protect it and, in many cases, profit from it.

It’s no surprise that many of the most coveted skills from employers center on the intersection of emerging technology and data. According to ITCareerFinder, the top 10 IT-related skills in-demand for 2023 are:

• Cloud computing
• Artificial intelligence
• Cybersecurity
• Data science
• Data analysis
• DevOps
• Machine learning
• Product management
• Software development
• Systems and networks

While some larger companies, such as consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, are providing training to their full US workforces on AI, that is not yet the norm, meaning professionals often have to proactively seek out the AI skills and training they need to be successful as their roles evolve. That can take place as part of the academic pursuits for students preparing to enter the workforce or through a variety of training courses and credentials offered by professional associations and industry groups.

Increasingly, universities are adding programs – both bachelor’s and advanced degrees – in artificial intelligence, either as standalone areas of focus or, in some cases, as part of computer science programs. Similarly, universities in recent years have added programs in emerging technology-focused fields such as cloud computing, cryptocurrency and data science.

However, while many universities are recognizing the demand for new degree offerings in technology fields, academic institutions face inherent, structural challenges with being able to keep pace with the rapid evolution of the technology landscape. And even students who are able to earn degrees focused on emerging technology will need to refresh their knowledge as their career progresses, given the rapid rate of change on the technology landscape. That is where an array of technology certifications, certificates and courses can help fill in gaps.

For example, global digital trust association ISACA offers the Certified in Emerging Technology (CET) credential, which includes stackable certificates in Cloud Fundamentals, IoT Fundamentals, Blockchain Fundamentals and AI Fundamentals. Microsoft (Certified: Azure Fundamentals) and IBM (Artificial Intelligence Analyst Certificate, AI Engineering Professional Certificate) are among the other organizations that have put forward credentialing resources in this space.

There are other, less intensive knowledge resources available as well – videos, online courses, white papers, and more. Whatever learning path they choose, practitioners will need to seek out emerging technology expertise on an ongoing basis to equip themselves for success in an increasingly technology-centric professional landscape.

ISACA’s Academic and Workforce Partnership Program partners with schools, colleges and universities around the globe to give students the opportunity to enhance their learning experience through credentials and certifications that provides the necessary skills to begin a career in IT audit, risk, security, cybersecurity, governance or privacy. We provide students with the knowledge, skills and abilities mapped to job practices and deliver them at scale. Our focus is on bringing these opportunities to high schools, colleges and universities all over the world in order to promote greater equity, inclusivity and accessibility to aspiring Information Systems, IT, Cybersecurity professionals, regardless of skill level.