Cybersecurity: Why Judgement Matters More Today Than Alerts

It’s Human Thinking That Keeps Systems Secure 

Over the last couple of years, the cybersecurity landscape has changed considerably. New tools, emerging threats and AI-driven automation have reshaped how security teams work day to day. Alerts are faster, more frequent and often more complex than ever. But despite all of that change, one thing hasn’t shifted: effective cybersecurity still relies on human judgment. 

At Liberty IT, that balance between technology and critical thinking is central to how our security teams work. To explore what cybersecurity really looks like today, we spoke with Damian, Senior Cyber Security Analyst, about how the role has evolved, why mindset and judgment matter more than ever, and which skills continue to stand the test of time. 

Cybersecurity Is Constantly Changing, So The Thinking Behind It Matters Most 

Damian, you’ve been working in cybersecurity for a long time now. How has the role evolved in recent years? 

I'm only six years in—though in cybersecurity years, that might feel longer! The pace of change has accelerated beyond what many of us anticipated. The volume of data, alerts and signals we deal with has increased exponentially, but what's really evolved is the sophistication of threats on the horizon. 

We're preparing for a new generation of challenges—agentic AI and autonomous systems that can potentially plan, execute and evolve attacks without human intervention. These aren't widespread yet, but they're coming, and we need to be ready. 

On the defensive side, generative AI has become essential for correlating massive data volumes and surfacing anomalies, but here's what's interesting: at this stage, these AI models and agents need to be trained extensively by human analysts. That's actually creating new opportunities in our field—roles that didn't exist even a couple of years ago. 

The fundamentals of the role haven't changed—cybersecurity is still about understanding risk, analysing information, and making sound decisions—but the complexity and stakes have risen dramatically. The technology supports that process, and right now, we're in a crucial phase where human expertise is shaping how these AI systems will perform in the future. 

Why Judgment Matters More Than Alerts 

With so many alerts and automated systems, how do you decide what actually needs attention? 

This has become one of the most critical challenges in modern cybersecurity. Not every alert represents a real threat, and reacting to everything would be not just exhausting but strategically dangerous. 

The foundation of effective prioritization is knowing your environment intimately understanding your assets, their value to the business, and how they interconnect. You need to know what's normal for your specific organization, because context is everything. A pattern that's benign in one environment might be critical in another. 

One of the most important skills is being able to adapt to and anticipate threats specific to your sector and organization. It's not just about reacting to what's happening—it's about understanding your threat landscape well enough to predict what might be coming. You look at the context, the likelihood of impact based on your specific environment, and the potential consequences to your critical assets. 

Over time, experience helps you recognize patterns, but that experience needs to be grounded in deep knowledge of the environment you're protecting. Good security in 2026 involves measured, informed decision-making that's tailored to your organization's unique risk profile. 

AI In Cybersecurity: Support, Not Substitution 

How has AI shaped cybersecurity work for you and your team? 

AI has become a powerful support tool for us. It helps correlate large volumes of data, identify patterns more quickly, and surface anomalies that might otherwise be missed. That’s incredibly valuable in a modern security operations environment. However, AI outputs still need verification. 

Automated systems don’t understand intent or business context in the same way people do. Human analysts are still responsible for validating findings, assessing real-world risk, and determining the appropriate response. In many ways, AI has increased the importance of human judgment rather than reduced it. 

The Skills That Still Matter in Cybersecurity 

Regardless of how technology evolves, what skills do you think remain essential for cybersecurity professionals? 

Curiosity and genuine passion for the work are absolutely at the top of my list. Without those, everything else becomes much harder. This field rewards people who genuinely want to understand how things work and how they can break. 

Problem solving and analytical thinking remain fundamental. Every incident is slightly different, and with AI-powered threats emerging, you need a systematic approach combined with creative thinking to understand what's really happening. The ability to question assumptions—even those made by AI systems—is critical. 

Communication has become even more important. Security doesn't operate in isolation, and with threats becoming more complex and technical, being able to clearly explain attack patterns, emerging risks and recommended actions to other teams and leadership makes a huge difference. 

I'd also emphasize adaptability and continuous learning. The threat landscape is evolving faster than ever, and professionals who can quickly understand new attack vectors and adapt their defensive strategies are the ones who'll thrive. These are all skills that remain valuable no matter how advanced the tooling becomes, but it all starts with curiosity and passion. 

Staying Effective Without Burning Out 

Cybersecurity can be intense. How do you maintain balance in such a high-stakes role? 

I try to maintain perspective, though I'll admit that's become more challenging with the acceleration of AI-powered threats. When you work in cybersecurity in 2026, it's easy to start seeing everything as suspicious—especially when you know threat actors have access to increasingly sophisticated tools. Over time, that can become mentally draining if you don't manage it carefully. 

For me, a structured approach to risk helps. Not everything is a threat and understanding that allows you to stay vigilant without becoming overwhelmed. I focus on what we can control, ensure we have robust detection and response capabilities, and trust in the processes and team we've built. 

Outside of work, making time to disconnect and reset is essential. Spending time with family and friends is crucial—they help ground you and remind you there's a world beyond threats and vulnerabilities. 

But I've also found it's important for me to have a hobby where I'm doing something manually, away from computers. Drawing and painting have been really valuable for me. There's something about creating something physical with your hands that helps you reconnect with the "real" world after spending all day in the digital one. 

My career depends on clear thinking, not constant stress. The reality is that cybersecurity is now a marathon with no finish line, so sustainability is key. You can't sprint indefinitely, and organizations need to recognize that analyst wellbeing directly impacts security effectiveness. 

Finding what works for you—whether it's art, sports, music, or anything else that gets you away from screens—is essential. 

Advice For Anyone Considering A Career In Cybersecurity In 2026 

What advice would you give to someone looking to build a career in cybersecurity today? 

Cybersecurity is an incredibly wide field with diverse roles—from threat intelligence and incident response to governance, architecture, penetration testing, and security engineering. People with different skills, backgrounds and mindsets can find their place in it. 

Whether you're more technical or prefer the strategic and policy side, whether you're detail-oriented or big-picture focused, there's likely a cybersecurity role that fits you. 

That said, to truly enjoy this career and be good at it, you need curiosity and genuine passion for it. 

This field evolves constantly, and with AI reshaping both offense and defense, you need to be excited about learning and adapting. If you're not genuinely interested in understanding how systems work, how threats emerge, and how to solve complex problems, it will be difficult to sustain long-term. 

Practical experience is incredibly valuable—internships, entry-level SOC roles, or hands-on projects all help build real understanding. Get comfortable with AI and machine learning concepts; you don't need to be a data scientist, but understanding how these systems work, their limitations, and their potential for both defense and attack is increasingly important. 

Alongside technical skills, don't underestimate the importance of judgment, communication and critical thinking. Learn to think like an attacker—understand the tools and techniques they're developing. And develop the confidence to question what automated systems tell you. 

Finally, find the area of cybersecurity that genuinely excites you. The threats aren't going away, and they're only getting more sophisticated. But if you have the curiosity and passion for this work, it's one of the most rewarding and impactful careers you can build. 

Security That Puts People First 

As cybersecurity continues to evolve in 2026, the most effective teams will be those that balance advanced technology with human insight. AI may help surface threats faster, but it’s judgment, experience and calm decision-making that turn information into meaningful action. 

At Liberty IT, cybersecurity relies on collaboration, continuous learning and a people-first mindset. If you’re interested in building a career where critical thinking matters as much as technical skill, explore our opportunities today!