News alert: INE sees surge in Q4 budget shifts as enterprises embrace hands-on training for AI roles
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<div class="entry" morss_own_score="5.840883977900552" morss_score="95.60143953345612"> <img decoding="async" src="https://www.lastwatchdog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/SH_FYI_logo-sepia-1850px-960x462.jpg"> <p>CARY, N.C., Dec. 11, 2025, CyberNewswire — With 90% of organizations facing critical skills gaps (ISC2) and AI reshaping job roles across cybersecurity, cloud, and IT operations, enterprises are rapidly reallocating L&D budgets toward hands-on training that delivers measurable, real-world performance.</p> <p><a href="https://www.lastwatchdog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/INE_Security_logo-500px.jpg"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.lastwatchdog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/INE_Security_logo-500px.jpg"></a></p> <p><a href="http://security.ine.com/?utm_source=cyberwire&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=q4-budget-season-december-25&utm_content=q4-budget-season-december-25_press-release&utm_term=all">INE</a> is uniquely positioned to support this shift, helping organizations invest their end-of-year budgets in scalable labs, simulations, and immersive learning experiences that strengthen workforce readiness ahead of 2026.</p> <p>As organizations prepare for 2026, L&D teams are under pressure to justify spend with measurable outcomes. Traditional e-learning continues to grow, but enterprise buyers are shifting their dollars toward hands-on, performance-based training, where they see faster time-to-competency, higher retention, and clearer ROI. This is especially true in highly technical disciplines like cybersecurity, cloud, and IT operations, where real-world proficiency directly affects business resilience.</p> <p><strong>Shift to real-world training</strong></p> <p>With Q4 spend-down deadlines approaching, organizations are increasingly using remaining budget to invest in solutions that deliver immediate operational value. Certification-only programs, long a staple of enterprise L&D, struggle to address the speed and complexity of current technology industry demands.</p> <p><a href="https://www.lastwatchdog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/INE-skills-gaps.png"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.lastwatchdog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/INE-skills-gaps-520x216.png"></a>Hands-on learning has become the preferred model for both learners and business leaders. The LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report notes that 74% of employees prefer experiential, hands-on learning over passive methods. This shift reflects a broader recognition: enterprises need training that shortens onboarding time, builds confidence, and prepares employees for real scenarios—not just exams.</p> <p>INE enables organizations to direct their end-of-year budgets toward:</p> <p>•Real-world labs and simulations</p> <p>•Immersive, scenario-based learning</p> <p>•Skills pathways tied to practical performance</p> <p>•Adaptive training powered by AI</p> <p>•Continuously updated content aligned to emerging threats and technologies</p> <div><a href="https://www.lastwatchdog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/Lindsey-Rinehart-hdsht.png"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.lastwatchdog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/Lindsey-Rinehart-hdsht-100x119.png"></a> Rinehart</div> <p>“L&D leaders want training that improves readiness on day one,” said Lindsey Rinehart, Chief Executive Officer at INE. “End-of-year budgets are increasingly being deployed toward experiential learning because the impact is immediate, measurable, and directly tied to workforce performance.”</p> <p><strong>Skills gap strain </strong></p> <p>The global skills shortage has become one of the costliest operational risks organizations face, contributing to increased incidents, slower remediation, and rising burnout across technical teams. Research from IBM shows that skills gaps contribute to 82% of security breaches, underscoring the need for training methods that build real-world capability—not just theoretical understanding.</p> <p>Hands-on learning has proven to be the most reliable solution. Practice-based training delivers up to 75% knowledge retention (Learning Pyramid / LinkedIn Learning analysis), compared to just 5–20% for lecture- or video-based programs, and can reduce time-to-competency by as much as 45%. These outcomes make immersive training essential for closing skills gaps quickly and sustainably.</p> <p><strong>AI reshapes learning</strong></p> <p>AI-driven corporate training is expanding rapidly across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, with strong growth projected through 2033 (LinkedIn Market Forecast). As AI transforms workflows, enterprises require training systems that adapt to learner proficiency, evaluate real-world performance, and continuously assess skills readiness.</p> <p>INE’s platform aligns directly with these demands, delivering dynamic hands-on labs, intelligent analytics, and performance-based insights that organizations can scale globally.</p> <p><strong>Preparing for 2026</strong></p> <p>As organizations finalize their 2026 workforce development strategies, INE offers a proven, experiential training platform built to reduce operational risk and accelerate skills development. By directing end-of-year budgets toward hands-on training with INE, enterprises can:</p> <p><strong>•</strong>Reduce ramp-up time for technical teams</p> <p>•Validate skills with measurable, performance-based analytics</p> <p>•Increase workforce readiness and resilience</p> <p>•Support continuous upskilling for emerging technologies</p> <p>•Deploy scalable, real-world training globally</p> <p>“Enterprises that invest their remaining Q4 budgets into hands-on, performance-driven learning will enter 2026 with stronger teams and significantly improved operational readiness,” said Rinehart.</p> <p><a href="https://ine.com/enterprise?utm_source=cyberwire&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=q4-budget-season-december-25&utm_content=q4-budget-season-december-25_press-release&utm_term=all">INE Enterprise</a> enables companies to turn training investments into measurable performance gains that directly support business resilience and growth.</p> <p><strong><em>About INE Security: </em></strong><em><a href="http://security.ine.com/?utm_source=cyberwire&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=q4-budget-season-december-25&utm_content=q4-budget-season-december-25_press-release&utm_term=all">INE Security</a> is the premier provider of online networking and cybersecurity training and certification. Harnessing a powerful hands-on lab platform, cutting-edge technology, a global video distribution network, and world-class instructors, INE Security is the top training choice for Fortune 500 companies worldwide for cybersecurity training in business and for IT professionals looking to advance their careers. INE Security’s suite of learning paths offers an incomparable depth of expertise across cybersecurity and is committed to delivering advanced technical training while also lowering the barriers worldwide for those looking to enter and excel in an IT career.</em></p> <p><strong><em>Media contact: </em></strong><em>Kim Lucht, Chief Marketing Officer, INE Security, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d2a2a0b7a1a192bbbcb7fcb1bdbf">[email protected]</a></em></p> <p><em><strong>Editor’s note:</strong> This press release was provided by </em><a href="https://cybernewswire.com/">CyberNewswire</a><em> as part of its press release syndication service. The views and claims expressed belong to the issuing organization.</em></p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.lastwatchdog.com/news-alert-ine-sees-surge-in-q4-budget-shifts-as-enterprises-embrace-hands-on-training-for-ai-roles/"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.lastwatchdog.com/wp/wp-content/plugins/simple-share-buttons-adder/buttons/somacro/facebook.png" title="Facebook"></a><a href="https://plus.google.com/share?url=https://www.lastwatchdog.com/news-alert-ine-sees-surge-in-q4-budget-shifts-as-enterprises-embrace-hands-on-training-for-ai-roles/"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.lastwatchdog.com/wp/wp-content/plugins/simple-share-buttons-adder/buttons/somacro/google.png" title="Google+"></a><a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#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"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.lastwatchdog.com/wp/wp-content/plugins/simple-share-buttons-adder/buttons/somacro/email.png" title="Email"></a></p> <p>December 11th, 2025 <span> | <a href="https://www.lastwatchdog.com/category/news-alerts/">News Alerts</a> | <a href="https://www.lastwatchdog.com/category/top-stories/">Top Stories</a></span></p> <p> </p></div><div class="spu-placeholder" style="display:none"></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_20 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://securityboulevard.com/2025/12/news-alert-ine-sees-surge-in-q4-budget-shifts-as-enterprises-embrace-hands-on-training-for-ai-roles/" data-a2a-title="News alert: INE sees surge in Q4 budget shifts as enterprises embrace hands-on training for AI roles"><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2025%2F12%2Fnews-alert-ine-sees-surge-in-q4-budget-shifts-as-enterprises-embrace-hands-on-training-for-ai-roles%2F&linkname=News%20alert%3A%20INE%20sees%20surge%20in%20Q4%20budget%20shifts%20as%20enterprises%20embrace%20hands-on%20training%20for%20AI%20roles" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2025%2F12%2Fnews-alert-ine-sees-surge-in-q4-budget-shifts-as-enterprises-embrace-hands-on-training-for-ai-roles%2F&linkname=News%20alert%3A%20INE%20sees%20surge%20in%20Q4%20budget%20shifts%20as%20enterprises%20embrace%20hands-on%20training%20for%20AI%20roles" title="LinkedIn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2025%2F12%2Fnews-alert-ine-sees-surge-in-q4-budget-shifts-as-enterprises-embrace-hands-on-training-for-ai-roles%2F&linkname=News%20alert%3A%20INE%20sees%20surge%20in%20Q4%20budget%20shifts%20as%20enterprises%20embrace%20hands-on%20training%20for%20AI%20roles" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2025%2F12%2Fnews-alert-ine-sees-surge-in-q4-budget-shifts-as-enterprises-embrace-hands-on-training-for-ai-roles%2F&linkname=News%20alert%3A%20INE%20sees%20surge%20in%20Q4%20budget%20shifts%20as%20enterprises%20embrace%20hands-on%20training%20for%20AI%20roles" title="Reddit" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_email" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2025%2F12%2Fnews-alert-ine-sees-surge-in-q4-budget-shifts-as-enterprises-embrace-hands-on-training-for-ai-roles%2F&linkname=News%20alert%3A%20INE%20sees%20surge%20in%20Q4%20budget%20shifts%20as%20enterprises%20embrace%20hands-on%20training%20for%20AI%20roles" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div><p class="syndicated-attribution">*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from <a href="https://www.lastwatchdog.com">The Last Watchdog</a> authored by <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/author/0/" title="Read other posts by cybernewswire">cybernewswire</a>. Read the original post at: <a href="https://www.lastwatchdog.com/news-alert-ine-sees-surge-in-q4-budget-shifts-as-enterprises-embrace-hands-on-training-for-ai-roles/">https://www.lastwatchdog.com/news-alert-ine-sees-surge-in-q4-budget-shifts-as-enterprises-embrace-hands-on-training-for-ai-roles/</a> </p>