K
Kathleen Martin
Guest
The stepping stones for women in cybersecurity date back to the 1940s, when the computer industry was still in its nascent stage. Brave women dubbed as ‘code girls’ worked secretly in wartime intelligence during the World War II breaking codes for the Army and Navy. These women were the precursors of what we now call women in cybersecurity.
Fast forward to 2020s and we have come a long way. The women of the 21st century are breaking glass ceilings – becoming leaders and setting great examples not only in the field of technology and science but in every walk in life. The worry however is why the number of women in IT and technology roles continue to be dramatically lower than that of men. The difference is even more startling in specialized role such as cybersecurity. Today women comprise just 24% of the cybersecurity workforce and in leadership positions it is even less than 11% – the numbers indisputably suggest there’s still a long way to go.
According to the 2020 (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study, gender disparities persist around the globe. The highest percentage of women cybersecurity professionals is in Latin America, with 40%, while in North America the figure is just 21%. The results in Europe and Asia-Pacific are at 23% and 30% respectively.
Cybersecurity isn’t all about becoming a code jockey; critical thinking skills, curiosity, and problem-solving abilities go a long way toward success in the field. And because of the ongoing talent shortage, salaries in cybersecurity are high. According to PayScale, the average base salary for a cybersecurity analyst ranges from $64,235 for entry-level positions to $112,984 for experienced pros.
Unfortunately, the industry is currently experiencing a global shortage of about four million professionals, according to the Cybersecurity Workforce Study. Research shows, a more equitable gender ratio in cybersecurity teams benefits businesses. As Jennifer Sunshine Steffens, CEO of cybersecurity services provider IOActive, expressed a similar sentiment to cybersecurity news site Fifth Domain: Without women on a cybersecurity team, she said, “you lose out on a lot of diverse perspectives.” Boosting diversity helps organizations “stay up to speed” on cyber threats.
An often-cited issue is the lack of female role models and encouragement to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers. Many women simply haven’t met anyone working in the field of cybersecurity. That makes it a grey area for them. Research done by Girls Who Code shows that although 74% of middle school girls express interest in STEM subjects, only 0.4% of high school girls choose to major in computer science. Read more at: https://www.cxotoday.com/security/why-are-there-so-few-women-in-cybersecurity/
Fast forward to 2020s and we have come a long way. The women of the 21st century are breaking glass ceilings – becoming leaders and setting great examples not only in the field of technology and science but in every walk in life. The worry however is why the number of women in IT and technology roles continue to be dramatically lower than that of men. The difference is even more startling in specialized role such as cybersecurity. Today women comprise just 24% of the cybersecurity workforce and in leadership positions it is even less than 11% – the numbers indisputably suggest there’s still a long way to go.
According to the 2020 (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study, gender disparities persist around the globe. The highest percentage of women cybersecurity professionals is in Latin America, with 40%, while in North America the figure is just 21%. The results in Europe and Asia-Pacific are at 23% and 30% respectively.
Cybersecurity isn’t all about becoming a code jockey; critical thinking skills, curiosity, and problem-solving abilities go a long way toward success in the field. And because of the ongoing talent shortage, salaries in cybersecurity are high. According to PayScale, the average base salary for a cybersecurity analyst ranges from $64,235 for entry-level positions to $112,984 for experienced pros.
Unfortunately, the industry is currently experiencing a global shortage of about four million professionals, according to the Cybersecurity Workforce Study. Research shows, a more equitable gender ratio in cybersecurity teams benefits businesses. As Jennifer Sunshine Steffens, CEO of cybersecurity services provider IOActive, expressed a similar sentiment to cybersecurity news site Fifth Domain: Without women on a cybersecurity team, she said, “you lose out on a lot of diverse perspectives.” Boosting diversity helps organizations “stay up to speed” on cyber threats.
An often-cited issue is the lack of female role models and encouragement to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers. Many women simply haven’t met anyone working in the field of cybersecurity. That makes it a grey area for them. Research done by Girls Who Code shows that although 74% of middle school girls express interest in STEM subjects, only 0.4% of high school girls choose to major in computer science. Read more at: https://www.cxotoday.com/security/why-are-there-so-few-women-in-cybersecurity/
