By Sonia Qureshi, ASPL Recruitment Consultant

The growing nature and implementation of advanced technology in our society, calls for an increase in the need of cybersecurity measures globally. As businesses and corporations seek to safeguard sensitive information and maintain operational integrity, a career in the cybersecurity field has grown more in demand.In acknowledgement of International Women in Cyber Day (IWCD), it is crucial to explore the importance of gender diversity in the cybersecurity field and the value that women bring into this space and profession.

Jobs in cybersecurity is known to be largely dominated by men, as women currently, represent 11% of the global cybersecurity workforce as highlighted by IWCD. Many women tend to leave the industry due to the lack of support, opportunities, growth and inclusion in this field. Gender classifying and unconscious bias can further lead to the development of feelings of imposter syndrome and self-doubt, as women in this field may struggle with feelings of inadequacy and unbelonging. A McKinsey workplace report found that women who encounter microaggressions in the workplace are significantly less likely to feel psychologically safe. This lack of safety can affect their willingness to take risks, raise concerns or suggest new ideas.

Having women in prominent cybersecurity spaces provides an opportunity to inspire and motivate the next generation to pursue a profession in this space, whilst offering guidance, support and safe spaces. In an article by Cyber Magazine, Lead Cyber Engineer, Kristy Perrett encourages the need for gender diversity by advising, “Women or girls who are passionate about a career in this sector – let that passion shine through and pursue it. Invest in yourself and seek out any training opportunities that you can. There’s also a large community of women in cyber groups where you can join, network and ask questions.”

Although, the number of women entering this space is expected to increase over the upcoming years, there needs to be a shift in attitudes which requires a diversity of talent. Not only does it ensure workplace equality, but diversity in teams also generate robust solutions, stronger defences, better performance and outcomes by uncovering and mitigating biases in policies and security practices. Currently, the cybersecurity industry is experiencing a significant skills shortage. Organisations that embrace gender diversity, often improve performance and outcomes as diversity fosters creativity and greater organisational adaptability. Retaining and bringing in more women in the cybersecurity space can drive organisational success and help bridge the shortage gap.

Supporting women in the cybersecurity space fosters an effective and innovative workforce whilst reducing workplace bias and increasing workplace equality. This has many industrious advantages, such as closing a shortage in skills gap across the field, bringing diverse perspectives which can enhance overall performance and encouraging women to step into roles in which they are passionate about whilst inspiring the next generation.