International. (ISC) ², an international association for information security, released its 2019 Women in Cybersecurity report, which reveals that women now make up 24 percent of the cybersecurity workforce.
This estimate is a higher percentage than in previous reports, in part due to the adoption of a new sample methodology that creates a more accurate and holistic representation of it and ICT professionals responsible for the security of their organization's critical assets. While the stronger representation of women in the cybersecurity workforce is encouraging, the report indicates that challenges such as pay inequality persist.
"The data confirms what we've been seeing in recent years on the ground. More women are entering the cybersecurity field with graduate degrees and not only working in the trenches but also in the C suite," said (ISC)² CEO David Shearer, CISSP. Women in high-level positions will foster greater inclusion and inspire young women to join the industry, and there are certainly many exciting opportunities available to those looking to inspire a safe cyber world. Diversity only makes us stronger."
Signs of progress
The new generation of professionals entering cybersecurity is decidedly more feminine than in the past. 45 percent of women surveyed are millennials, compared to only 33 percent of men. While only 24 percent of the industry is female today, this will change the face of the cybersecurity profession in the coming years.
Women also bring higher levels of education to cybersecurity. More women (52 percent) in the survey have a graduate degree than their male counterparts (44 percent).
The report also found that although men still outnumber women in cybersecurity by around three to one overall, women in the field are advancing to leadership positions. According to respondents, higher percentages of women than men are reaching senior leadership and decision-making positions:
Chief Technology Officer: Seven percent of women vs. two percent of men
Vice President of IT: Nine percent of women vs. five percent of men
IT Director: 18 percent of women and 14 percent of men
C/Executive Level: 28 percent of women vs. 19 percent of men
"It's an encouraging sign that more women are succeeding in cybersecurity and rising through the ranks," said Jennifer Minella, CISSP, vice president of engineering and security for Carolina Advanced Digital, Inc. and chair of the Board of Directors of (ISC) 2. "For many years, this has not been the case, and we must continue to do everything we can to make our profession welcoming to the most talented and innovative people, regardless of gender."
Challenges remain
While there is evidence of progress as more women enter and succeed in the cybersecurity field, the report also indicates that pay inequalities persist. 17 percent of women reported annual salaries between $50,000 and $90,000, compared with 29 percent of men and 15 percent of women earn between $100,000 and $499,999, while 20 percent of men earn at least that amount.
Despite all their differences, the report indicates that men and women share many of the same concerns about their roles, including a lack of commitment from senior management, the reputation of their organization, the risk of their work being outsourced, a lack of work-life balance. , the threat of artificial intelligence (AI) reducing the need for cybersecurity workers and the lack of standardized cybersecurity terminology to communicate effectively within their organizations.
Source: (ISC) ².
