Importance of women in cybersecurity

There is a worldwide shortage of staffing when it comes to the industry of cybersecurity. However, women represent only 20% of the workforce in cybersecurity. There is a severe shortfall of talent on the one hand.  Yet, on the other, including more women also adds to the gender balance and diversity of the workforce involved.

Gender gap in cybersecurity

Including more women in the workforce improves the diversity, perspectives, leadership and experience of the workforce and this impacts the business. While this is true for any role in the company, it is particularly relevant in the cybersecurity space. Hackers and people who pose threats come with a wide variety of backgrounds and therefore we need people with disparate and diverse backgrounds to deal with these threats so that the chances of our success are better.

Women also generally have better skill sets and higher education than men in this industry. Also, it is important to eradicate the stigma that cybersecurity is a male-dominated STEM job.

Challenges faced by women making a career in cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is often considered a male-dominated profession and therefore not preferred by many women. This is because at a young age, such regressive ideas and gender biases are ingrained in people. It is often perceived that men are good with STEM and not women. Such ideas are reinforced when women join tech careers and find that they are the only ones opting for them. The lack of gender balance is very apparent and stark. There is an unconscious bias against women and they have to push harder for opportunities and recognition. Many of these problems are deep-rooted in education and culture and have been cultivated over the years.

Changing status quo

Most terms used to describe jobs in the cybersecurity and tech space include terms like “techie”, “ethical hacker” and “cybersecurity whiz”. All these terms are generally attuned to the male demographic. By closing the gender gap, more women can be included and therefore a change in such terms can also be affected which in-turn would encourage more participation of women.

Also, a cybersecurity job involves relying on human connection. Often women excel in this. With their ability to communicate better they are an asset to the organization.

Pay gaps

There are huge pay gaps between men and women in almost all industries and cybersecurity is no exception. This discrimination prevents women from taking up these positions.

Normally, the top three priorities of women choosing a particular job are 1) contributing to society 2) earning a high salary 3) having a good work-life balance. When pay gaps are perceived, women tend to overlook the job and go for other options.

How can women become cybersecurity experts?

If you have decided to be a cybersecurity expert, here is what you must keep in mind:

1. Find a mentor: Having a mentor helps answer your questions and improve your enthusiasm. Your mentor can guide you by listening to your goals and objectives and guiding you in your career path. Networking is also crucial. Join groups for women in cybersecurity and start making connections. Attending conferences also helps.
2. Commit to learning: Cybersecurity being an industry that is changing every day, will require to constantly keep learning. You could get started with an online course, a book or even just google to stay updated on the latest trends and updates in the industry.
3. Growing and learning: Your first job may not be the most perfect or best job. However, every job presents an opportunity to learn and grow. Don’t be afraid to express your thoughts and learn from mistakes made and accept suggestions given by managers and co-workers.

Conclusion

Organizations must be willing to invest in long-term cultural changes. The threats that an organization faces needs an all-hands-on-the-deck approach. The vulnerabilities in our systems are forcing cyber criminals to come up with various new tactics. To handle them, we need the best of people and women can create a positive impact in this field .

Women also bring a capability of being able to think out of the box and these can be very useful to handle several threats especially internet security. Women also bring different perspectives which can lead to better business decisions and robust security protocols. Women are also capable of filling various job roles and offering value.