Certified to Learn AI but Blocked from Using It: The Access Gap in Security | An On Location Conversation at ISC2 Security Congress with Casey Marks, Chief Operating Officer

Employers send people to conferences and through certification exams, then limit what they can do with the result. With AI, that can mean staff may use it for certain tasks but are not allowed to code, build agents or connect systems. Sean Martin raises that gap with Casey Marks, Chief Operating Officer at ISC2, at ISC2 Security Congress in Denver. Marks says there is a superficiality in learning something you cannot apply, and calls it a fundamental question for the individual and the environment they work in. The conversation moves to why certification exists. Marks describes it as scalable opportunity for people who cannot spend 20 years in formal education, and says most ISC2 certifications require work experience, with the Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) as the exception. Sean describes having access to tools and a supportive company earlier in his career, and wonders about people without that access now. Marks says he wishes he had better answers and that "I think that opportunity is gate kept," a matter of genuine concern and of economics. Sean adds that tokens cost money too. Marks offers a conjecture: given the risks, environments will have to move toward permissive ones, and those that do not "probably won't be around." They close on the AI security certification ISC2 announced that day. Marks describes it as AI first, not AI added to the CISSP domains, and says the beta test is expected for candidates globally in December. His participation figures are his own. For security leaders, the conversation asks whether the people you train can practice what they learn. Read the full story on ITSPmagazine: https://www.itspmagazine.com/blog?p=certified-to-learn-ai-not-allowed-to-use-it-the-access-gap Resources ISC2 Releases AI Security Certification Pilot Exam Outline | https://www.isc2.org/Insights/2026/10/isc2-releases-ai-security-certification-pilot-exam-outline Code of Professional Conduct in Practice (ISC2 Express Course) | https://www.isc2.org/Insights/2026/08/new-isc2-express-course Certified in Cybersecurity Certification Exam Outline | https://www.isc2.org/certifications/cc/cc-certification-exam-outline