Features

Cybersecurity needs more women

Encouraging more women to pursue careers in cybersecurity is key to helping address the global skills shortage and fill the millions of unfilled positions.

12 August 2022

Lydia Kostopoulos, KnowBe4, says female mentors are vital in a male-dominated profession.

The lack of female representation has a snowball effect by driving unequal pay as well as an absence of support for women in the industry.

According to Dr Lydia Kostopoulos, SVP emerging tech insights at KnowBe4, the (ISC)² ‘Cybersecurity Workforce Study: Women in Cybersecurity’ report revealed that women currently represent around 24% of the cybersecurity workforce. Cybersecurity Ventures said women held 25% of cybersecurity jobs globally in 2021, up from 20% in 2019, and around 10% in 2013. And, according to another study by Cybersecurity Ventures, women filled 17% of Fortune 500 CISO positions in 2021 (85 out of 500 companies).

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