Issues related to cyber security have threatened to destabilise the internet and associated technologies, causing a domino effect across other industries. Over the recent years, large investments have been made in the cyber security industry due to increases in cyber threats and cyber-attacks.
Despite this, there is a lack of skills in professional cyber security. To battle this, more educated, trained and passionate professionals are required. Currently, qualified professionals are not able to keep up with the demand of cyber crimes reported.
Why are women underrepresented in the cyber security world?
The cyber security area is heavily male-dominated. The question isn’t why there are too many men in the workforce, but why aren’t there enough women? Fortunately, gender gap has not gone unnoticed. Although there is an increase of women in cyber security in 2013, women are only representing 11% since.
This is still a low rate especially as there are so many experienced experts, analysts and data directing to more female representation more than ever before. Employers should focus on attracting more women in the cyber security field and encourage them to be successful in this sector.
Benefits to gender-balanced teams.
It is really important to close the gender gap, but also the talent gap. Having more women will help boost the sector and fill the dire need to address the supply and demand including companies need for skilled workers. Aside from this, there are huge benefits in having mixed-gender teams:
Bringing in different ideas, perspectives to the team
Changing status quo of perceptions internally and externally
Re-thinking education: transforming education through training and investing in latest technologies – upskill or train new staff. Offer further learning and growth opportunities.
Challenges and solutions
With only 11% of women representing the cyber security trade, this means companies aren’t utilising the rest and appealing to even half of the population. This also emphasises issues with the lack of women and diversity, meaning less skillful people available to combat the uproar of demands.
An estimation of 3.5 million jobs is expected to remain vacant globally by 2021. This just proves that we need women in cyber security division more than ever as well as providing a lucrative career for them. In general, the cyber and tech business have an image problem, so how do we tackle this?
Companies to enforce inclusive roles and environments
Value non-tech and transferrable skills to urge more women to apply
Job diversity
Greater flexibility
High salary
Remove stereotypes and progress equality for women
Apprenticeships and investment in training programmes
For more information, you can read more on women in cybersecurity.
