Tines: Security Teams Spend 44% of Time on Manual Work

New research reveals many security teams are still struggling to unlock the full benefits of AI.

Tines’ Voice of Security 2026 report surveyed more than 1,800 security leaders and practitioners to understand how the industry is evolving in the era of AI and automation. 

The key takeaway? Even though AI adoption has become widespread, manual workloads still take up a significant chunk of team time. If left unchecked, this can lead to burnout, attrition and increased risk, as well as limiting security’s strategic impact.

Here’s what leaders need to know.

AI is revolutionising security work

Almost all SOCs (99%) are now using AI in some capacity. Half of organisations have a formal AI policy or framework in place and another 42% are in the process of establishing one. 

Leaders and practitioners rate AI as “highly effective” at helping with a range of high-impact security jobs, such as threat intelligence and detection, identity and access monitoring (IAM), compliance and policy writing, phishing analysis and workflow automation.

But alongside these positives, AI also introduces new security challenges. In 2026, top concerns include data leakage through AI co-pilots and agents, third-party issues and evolving regulations. Internal risks rank just as prominently as external ones, highlighting the need for robust governance and compliance frameworks. 

Manual workloads are still burning out teams

The vast majority of security leaders and practitioners (81%) say workloads increased in 2025. On average, teams spend almost 44% of their time on manual or repetitive work that could be automated.

As a result, 76% of security professionals have experienced burnout over the last 12 months. Heavy workloads are the primary cause, while repetitive tasks are also a top contributor.

What’s preventing security teams from utilising AI to its full advantage? Structural blockers like security and compliance concerns, resource constraints and integration gaps between tools make it difficult to implement new ways of working, getting in the way of effective automation.

This explains why AI adoption alone hasn’t translated to meaningful reductions in manual work – yet. Adding AI to already broken workflows can’t magically fix the underlying problems caused by existing security ecosystems, such as fragmented processes, manual handoffs and siloed tools. Instead, teams must radically rethink how work gets done to create an operational foundation that can leverage AI’s full potential.

Intelligent workflows can close the gap

Most respondents (73%) expect their security tech stack to grow in 2026. But more tools create greater complexity, increasing pressure on already stretched teams.

Intelligent workflows are the missing operational layer. They combine three core types of workflow – rules-based automation, agentic AI and humans-in-the-loop – to move work smoothly across systems and people, empowering teams to scale their operations securely and reliably. 

Respondents expect connected, automated workflows to deliver a range of benefits, like improved productivity (48%), faster response times (41%) and better data accuracy (40%). So it’s perhaps unsurprising that 92% of security professionals say an intelligent workflow platform is highly valuable.

Setting security up for success

Reducing manual work is critical to protecting team capacity and reducing burnout. Intelligent workflows are the key that enables teams to work more efficiently, reclaim their time and focus on strategic priorities that drive real business value.

Want to get more data-driven insights and practical tips? Download the full Voice of Security 2026 report.