Announcing The Forrester Wave™: Cybersecurity Skills And Training Platforms, Q1 2026

Why It Matters

These platforms become strategic assets, enabling organizations to prove cyber‑resilience, satisfy regulatory scrutiny, and stay ahead of AI‑driven threat evolution.

Key Takeaways

• AI now drives both attacks and training simulations
• Team-based exercises replace individual certification focus
• Skills verification supersedes traditional certifications for hiring
• Boards demand measurable resilience dashboards
• Threat velocity forces continuous content updates

Pulse Analysis

The cybersecurity training market has entered a new phase where artificial intelligence is no longer a peripheral feature but a core driver of both threat development and defensive learning. Vendors that embed AI‑generated attack chains into labs can replicate emerging adversary techniques faster than traditional content cycles, giving security teams a realistic rehearsal environment. This shift also raises the bar for platform providers, who must balance sophisticated simulation fidelity with the need for rapid, automated content refreshes to keep pace with daily vulnerability disclosures.

Beyond technology, the industry is redefining how skill competence is measured. Employers are moving away from static certifications toward challenge‑based assessments that verify actual capability in real‑world scenarios. By mapping performance to standards such as MITRE ATT&CK and NICE, platforms provide quantifiable metrics that translate directly into hiring decisions and promotion pathways. Moreover, the emphasis on team‑oriented exercises reflects the collaborative nature of modern incident response, where analysts, engineers, and executives must coordinate under pressure.

For CISOs, the Forrester Wave offers a decision framework that aligns security training investments with broader business objectives. Measurable resilience dashboards now serve as a lingua franca between security teams, board members, and cyber‑insurance providers, turning abstract training activities into concrete risk mitigation evidence. Selecting a platform that delivers continuous, AI‑informed updates and robust analytics can therefore accelerate compliance reporting, justify budget allocations, and ultimately strengthen an organization’s cyber posture in an increasingly hostile digital landscape.