Celebrating women breaking barriers in Cyber, empowering females in tech

TLDR:

International Women in Cyber Day (IWCD) celebrates the achievements of women in cybersecurity, addressing the lack of diversity and inclusion in the industry. The initiative aims to highlight the valuable skills women bring to the sector and advocate for more inclusive environments. By increasing the presence of women in cybersecurity, businesses can better address evolving threats and foster innovation.

Key Points:

• International Women in Cyber Day (IWCD) celebrates women’s achievements in the cybersecurity sector.
• The initiative aims to address the lack of diversity and inclusion in the industry, advocating for more opportunities for women.
• Increasing the presence of women in cybersecurity can help businesses better address evolving threats and foster innovation in the industry.

International Women in Cyber Day (IWCD) is a global initiative designed to celebrate the achievements of women in the global cybersecurity sector. Cybersecurity is still a male-dominated field, with ISC2 estimating in April 2024 that the percentage of women in the industry is roughly only 20-25%. Pay disparities also continue to exist, particularly for women of color working in the field. IWCD seeks to call attention to the variation of skills women bring to the cybersecurity sector and advocates for more inclusive environments to enable women to succeed and advance in cybersecurity roles. Lynn Dohm, Executive Director of Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS), emphasizes the importance of celebrating women in cyber and recognizing their invaluable contributions to the industry. She highlights that although women frequently outperform their colleagues in cybersecurity knowledge, the percentage of women in cyber barely increases each year, and women experience a significant lack of advancement opportunities in the cybersecurity workplace.

As disruptive technologies like AI and large language models (LLMs) continue to rise in popularity, the cyber threat landscape is becoming more complex. Businesses must adapt their hiring practices to reflect the evolving nature of work and attract more women to the cybersecurity workforce. Mandy Andress, CISO at Elastic, believes that recruiting more women into the field could shift the dynamics of the cybersecurity industry and help businesses confront emerging threats. By fostering diverse perspectives and innovative thinking, organizations can better address the evolving cybersecurity landscape and drive progress in the industry.

Overall, International Women in Cyber Day aims to champion women’s achievements in the cybersecurity industry, advocate for more opportunities and inclusion for women, and highlight the valuable skills and perspectives women bring to the sector. By increasing the presence of women in cybersecurity, businesses can better address evolving threats, foster innovation, and create a more diverse and inclusive industry.