Men have more opportunity than women to reach senior roles in the cyber and information security industry, according to a social media poll, which received 14,706 responses, by Infosecurity Europe, the annual information security event. Some 61 per cent of respondents acknowledged that women have less opportunity than men when vying for senior roles in cyber and information security.
Europe is one of the worst offending regions in the world when it comes to women in cyber security, with them making up just seven per cent of the industry workforce, and one of the biggest gender pay gaps in the world according to the Global Information Security Workforce Study. As event organisers say, given cybercrime poses one of our biggest threats, it’s difficult to fathom why the industry continues to sell itself short by missing out on a huge proportion of prospective female talent.
Some 63 per cent of those polled think there’s not enough guidance and support available for women wanting a career in cyber and information security. The future for women in security depends on the IT industry’s ability to inspire women and encourage careers in cyber security. Over half (56 per cent) of those surveyed note a lack of female role models in cyber and information security.
Hence Infosecurity Europe 2019 will be hosting the third annual Women in Cybersecurity networking event on day two, Wednesday, June 5 of the three-day show. The industry will meet to celebrate the achievements of females in cybersecurity, debate the challenges around diversity and discuss career opportunities for women in the industry. The event includes a keynote presentation by Dr Sue Black; ‘If I can do it, so can you’, a panel discussion, Q&A and networking.
Dr Sue Black says: “I’m not surprised by the results of this survey, the majority believe the same as me: that we really need to do something about the lack of guidance and support for women wanting a career in cyber and information security. There are many awesome women working in these areas, but we haven’t heard about them enough. Stories about the trailblazing women that have done incredible things in technology like Dame Stephanie Shirley, UK technology pioneer, and the women recently portrayed in the film Hidden Figures Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, have not been heard until now. Yet the history of computing is built on the work of women like them. I have long championed women in tech since setting up the UK’s first online network for women in tech BCSWomen back in 1998 and now as Professor of Computer Science and Technology Evangelist at Durham University I’m working hard to get more women into technology, to inspire and encourage millions of women to work in tech. Technology is the future. ”
Victoria Windsor, Group Content Manager at Infosecurity Group, says: “We are thrilled to have such an inspirational female speaker at the upcoming event. The cyber and information security sector must continue to encourage women to study and consider careers in the industry and, furthermore, it should be focused on retaining the female demographic and inspiring female influencers, motivating women to drive for senior roles in their field.”
Infosecurity Europe, now in its 24th year, runs at Olympia, Hammersmith, London, from June 4 to 6, 2019, including more than 400 exhibitors and 200 industry speakers. More deetails and registration at https://www.infosecurityeurope.com.
