The 11% - Women in tech

Cybersecurity: arguably one of the most important roles in the digital age. You wouldn’t leave your house unlocked and your windows open for people to find their way in, so why would you leave other aspects of your life and business exposed?

The world is in dire need of more cyber security experts – but it turns out there’s a HUGE difference in the amount of men versus women who work in cybersecurity, meaning the industry is suffering a diversity crisis.

‘Globally, men are 4 times more likely to hold cybersecurity C-suite and executive level positions, and 9 times more likely to hold managerial positions than women.’ PWC.com

Despite these figures, there’s a big opportunity for more women to consider a career in cyber security. Currently, the industry is comprised of only 11% women – and we believe this number needs to be boosted.

And just because the stats say there are more male managers, that isn’t to say that women aren’t making it to the top in this arena. Read on to learn about some inspiring women making it big in the sector.

Current female cybersecurity superheroes

There are plenty of examples of incredible women making waves in the world of cybersecurity.

Take Jane Frankland for example, who is a brilliant role model for women in the industry. She’s even written a book about the lack of women in cyber and the consequences called ‘IN Security: Why a Failure to Attract and Retain Women in Cybersecurity is Making Us All Less Safe’. She created and sold a penetration company and now owns KnewStart and Cyber Security Capital.

Elizabeth Denham, the UK information commissioner, is passionate about ensuring companies are clear about the personal information they share. She issued the ICO‘s biggest ever fine of £400,000 (over AU$750,000) to telecommunications company TalkTalk.

To learn about more influential women in the industry and their stories and achievements,check out this list of the Top 25 Women Leaders in Cyber Security 2021. 

Why are there fewer women?

A CREST cross-industry workshop agreed that there is no lack of opportunity for women in this field. It concluded that the problem is more likely due to how the job role is presented and the way it’s often portrayed at school and in the media. It’s reasonable to suggest that it is somewhat wrongly considered a male domain.

Women may be put off by this and not even consider the career option. The CREST report notes that women make up only 18% of computer science Bachelor’s degree graduates in the UK. This figure is not because women unsuccessful in their studies, but because the rate of female applicants to the courses is very low. Again, this is likely due to the perception of the industry and a lack of STEM opportunities presented to girls at school.

When was the last Blockbuster movie where the techie character who saves the day is female? Think Q in James Bond, for example. More female representation in these roles in media could go a long way towards encouraging women and girls into traditionally male-dominated sectors.

Research has shown that many women currently in the field didn’t initially intend to get into it, they just realised they liked practical problem solving and the day-to-day tasks of the job when they got to try it. Fewer than 50% of respondents entered the field via IT or computer science. So, perhaps there should be more education and encouragement within schools, colleges, and on careers websites.

Why the industry needs more women – a bright future

It’s unsurprising that the demand for cyber security experts continues to grow year on year. In fact, cyber security professionals are among the top most in-demand workers in Australia in 2021. But the industry needs more women, and there’s a lot of proof that diversity helps create more innovation.

‘A team that integrates diversity of all kinds – disciplines, genders, backgrounds, ethnicities, etc. – ensures fresh perspectives, prompting innovation and creativity.’ Andrea Little Limbago, Principal Social Scientist at Endgame

Wondering what sort of satisfaction this career offers for women in tech? The women surveyed for this report were asked to describe what they love most about their role. The results were as follows…

• Helping people: 65%
• Solving complex problems: 64%
• Creating a better future and world: 62%
• Securing organizations: 56%
• Seeing things before anyone else does: 38%
• Applying my skills: 24%
• Other: 7%

If the above things appeal to you, then perhaps it might be time to properly look into starting a career in cyber security. You don’t need any previous experience – just tech-savviness and a drive to succeed.

Our cyber security courses can help you transition from your current industry into a role in tech. By enrolling with Learning People, you get access to our award-winning StudentCare™ team to guide you through your studies, and our brilliant Career Services team who can guide you through applying and interviewing for a role in your desired industry.

Get in touch today to start on the track your new career pathway.