GoKawiilGartner report forecasts SOC engineers to outnumber analysts 50% by 2028
A 2026 Gartner report by analyst Pete Shoard, titled 'The Roles Required for the AI-Enabled Security Operations Center (SOC),' predicts that by 2028 security operations centers will employ 50% more engineers than analysts. The report attributes this shift to AI agents taking over much of the routine alert-handling work, pushing analysts toward case ownership and response decisions rather than triage. Prophet Security is distributing the full report as a free download.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The prediction suggests AI tools are reshaping SOC staffing priorities rather than simply cutting headcount, with Gartner stating the SOC workforce overall will not shrink by 2030. This could mean security teams invest more in detection engineering, exposure management, and threat expertise as automation absorbs lower-level alert processing. If accurate, entry-level analyst roles may need to be redefined since the traditional alert-triage path is disappearing as a training ground.
- Gartner predicts SOC engineers will outnumber analysts by 50% by 2028.
- AI agents are reducing the need for manual alert triage, shifting analysts toward case ownership.
- Gartner expects overall SOC headcount to remain stable through 2030, with roles evolving rather than disappearing.
Source: bleepingcomputer.com, 2026-11-03
Published there as: “Gartner Predicts SOCs Will Have 50% More Engineers Than Analysts by 2028”
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