Women compose only 25% of the computer-related workforce, according to Pew Research Center<\/a>. Similarly, industry experts<\/a> estimate that by the end of 2021, women will fill 25% of all cybersecurity\r\n positions.\r\n<\/p>\r\n Increasing women's representation in cybersecurity can lead to promising careers for women in this growing sector. A\r\n more diverse workforce can also help the industry by providing a variety of perspectives and problem-solving ideas.\r\n<\/p>\r\n The tech field needs more resources to encourage and support historically excluded groups, like women, in their tech\r\n pursuits. This guide explores the benefits of diversity in tech and opportunities for women in cybersecurity<\/a>.\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n Cybersecurity professionals protect computer systems from attacks by malicious actors. Cybersecurity got its start in\r\n the 1970s, when researchers created Creeper, the first computer worm, and Reaper, the first antivirus software.\r\n<\/p>\r\n Commercial antivirus programs emerged in the 1980s. The 1990s and 2000s saw a rise in professional cyberattacks.\r\n Since then, as society has come to rely on computers for many aspects of everyday life, threats to information\r\n security have multiplied.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n The U.S. lost more than $4\r\n billion<\/a> due to cyberattacks in 2020. As cyberattacks become more common<\/a>, demand for workers with\r\n cybersecurity expertise will likely grow. The Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a> (BLS) projects above-average job growth (33%) for information\r\n security analysts between 2020 and 2030.\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n \n \n <\/a>\n\n\r\n \r\n Men far outnumber women in cybersecurity, reflecting trends in the IT field. Only 19%<\/a> of computer science bachelor's degrees went to women in 2017-18, up just 1% since\r\n 2014.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n Women in information security made up only 11% of the workforce<\/a> in 2013. This number has since increased to 25%<\/a>. However, seeing as women make up 47%<\/a> of STEM workers overall, cybersecurity still has a long way to go.\r\n<\/p>\r\n Notably, these statistics fail to include nonbinary genders. Research also tends to conflate the terms \"woman\" and\r\n \"female.\" Even with these shortcomings, data clearly indicates that women lack representation in cybersecurity,\r\n despite some recent improvements.\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n Men still disproportionately outnumber women in cybersecurity. However, shifting demographics may create more gender,\r\n racial, and ethnic diversity in the field.\r\n<\/p>\r\n A 2018 report from (ISC)²<\/a>\r\n found that ethnic and racial minorities in cybersecurity made up 26% of the sector’s workforce. This is 5%\r\n more representation than these groups see in the U.S. workforce as a whole.\r\n<\/p>\r\n Despite being highly educated, workers from racial and ethnic minority groups hold\r\n fewer<\/a> cybersecurity management positions than the national average. Moreover, females of color earn\r\n significantly less than others in the field.\r\n<\/p>\r\n The cybersecurity industry is notoriously dominated by men. Likewise, this industry requires advanced technical\r\n skills. As such, some women may assume that they would not like working in cybersecurity. Companies can change this\r\n by making cybersecurity a more welcoming field, offering opportunities for success to people from historically\r\n excluded groups.\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n Diversity in tech offers many benefits. Including more varied viewpoints, life experiences, and problem-solving\r\n strategies can lead to innovation. In fact, a 2018 study<\/a> found that companies with above-average diversity in management reported 19%\r\n more revenue than those with below-average management diversity.\r\n<\/p>\r\n Companies lacking women's representation on their cybersecurity teams are losing out on a huge pool of talent. Demand\r\n for skilled cybersecurity professionals is outpacing supply<\/a>. This makes obvious the benefits of growing the talent pool. Companies that\r\n want to stay competitive should focus on hiring and promoting women in cybersecurity.\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n Address the Labor Shortage<\/strong>: Encouraging diversity in tech can help address the labor shortage in\r\n cybersecurity. If more women pursue cybersecurity careers, industries that need these professionals may benefit\r\n from a larger pool of talent.\r\n<\/p>\r\n Stimulate Innovation and Creativity<\/strong>: Employing a diverse workforce can lead to more creativity and\r\n innovation. This helps industries move forward and develop new technologies, in turn generating larger\r\n profits.\r\n<\/p>\r\n Having more women in cybersecurity benefits companies of all types and sizes. Companies with stronger women's\r\n representation can also benefit individual teams.\r\n<\/p>\r\n Diverse Viewpoints<\/strong>: Women bring perspectives that often differ from men's. As such, teams representing both\r\n these genders may access new ways of thinking and confronting obstacles.\r\n<\/p>\r\n Learning Opportunities<\/strong>: Companies with a diverse workforce give employees an opportunity to learn about\r\n people different from themselves. This can contribute to better understanding about other cultures, races, and\r\n genders.\r\n<\/p>\r\n Better Support for Women in the Industry<\/strong>: Encouraging more women in cybersecurity can create better\r\n environments for current and future women in the field. These professionals can find potential role models,\r\n connect with mentors, and feel less isolated.\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n Above-Average Salaries<\/strong>: Earning a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity can open the door to lucrative jobs<\/a>. Payscale reports<\/a> that graduates with a BS in cybersecurity earned $73,000 on average as\r\n of December 2021.\r\n<\/p>\r\n Job Security<\/strong>: The BLS projects rapid job growth<\/a> for information security analysts between 2020 and 2030. As\r\n cyberattacks increase and more organizations rely on cloud services, the demand for cybersecurity professionals\r\n will likely rise.\r\n<\/p>\r\n Sense of Accomplishment<\/strong>: Because so few women work in cybersecurity, those who build careers in the field may\r\n feel a strong sense of personal accomplishment. It can take hard work and perseverance, but it can feel good to\r\n prove there is a place for women in technology.\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n \n \n <\/a>\n\n\r\n Women in cybersecurity can pursue in-demand careers earning above-average salaries. A fast-growing, high-paying\r\n field, cybersecurity could be a smart career choice for anyone seeking a stable job with room to advance.\r\n<\/p>\r\n Demand for cybersecurity professionals outpaces supply. For example, the BLS projects a 33% job growth<\/a> (much faster than average) from 2020-2030 for information security analysts.\r\n Cybersecurity professionals may advance into roles like Information security analysts<\/a>\r\n earned a median annual salary of $103,590<\/a> as of May 2020, significantly exceeding the national median of $41,950.\r\n STEM workers across the board earn more than people in other occupations. However, women in technology earn less than men<\/a> in equivalent roles across all ethnic and racial groups.\r\n<\/p>\r\n The pay gap between men and women in tech is one of several potential challenges to women in cybersecurity.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n $103,590<\/strong><\/p>\r\n Source: BLS<\/a><\/small><\/p>\r\n<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n Women in cybersecurity face challenges encountered less often by men. These experiences can act as barriers that keep\r\n women from pursuing a career in the field.\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n Closing the gender gap and increasing diversity in tech and cybersecurity<\/a> is critical. There is already a shortage of\r\n cybersecurity professionals. The demand for skilled tech workers will likely continue to increase. Women can help\r\n meet this demand to keep the world's data and information safe.\r\n<\/p>\r\n Women in cybersecurity also benefit as individuals, as the field offers stable jobs paying high salaries. Initiatives\r\n to support women in technology can stimulate more gender diversity in the most advanced leadership and management\r\n positions.\r\n<\/p>\r\n Increasing the number of women in cybersecurity also benefits the field by bringing more perspectives, creativity,\r\n and innovation. Diverse perspectives can enrich the tech industry and improve information security.\r\n<\/p>\r\n Many initiatives aim to improve women's representation in cybersecurity.<\/p>\r\n Getting more women in tech careers starts with education. Nonprofit groups, foundations, and companies offer\r\n scholarships for women in cybersecurity. These encourage women to study tech subjects. Read on for a list of women\r\n in cybersecurity scholarships.\r\n<\/p>\r\n Professional organizations for women in cybersecurity work to increase women's representation in tech. Groups like\r\n Women in Cybersecurity and Women's Society of Cyberjutsu offer training and mentorship programs. These programs\r\n offer professional development opportunities to help women in cybersecurity advance in their careers.\r\n<\/p>\r\n Professional groups for women in cybersecurity also provide networking events, conferences, and career resources.\r\n Read on to learn about some of the best organizations promoting women in cybersecurity.\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n \n \n <\/a>\n\n\r\n\r\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n Industry experts project that women in cybersecurity will make up 25% of the sector's global workforce by the end of\r\n 2021. This number highlights women's continued underrepresentation in the field, but it marks a 5% increase since\r\n 2019.<\/p>\r\n Many factors contribute to women's lack of representation in cybersecurity. Reasons include gender bias, pay\r\n discrepancies, small numbers of women who earn computer-related degrees, and fewer women in leadership positions to\r\n serve as role models.<\/p>\r\n Yes, cybersecurity is slowly including more women. Women in cybersecurity composed just 20% of the workforce in 2019,\r\n compared to an estimated 25% by the end of 2021.<\/p>\r\n Diversity in tech helps people from historically excluded groups access in-demand, high-paying jobs. Diversity can\r\n also increase innovation, creativity, and revenue for companies. Encouraging diversity in cybersecurity can help\r\n address the field's labor shortage.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Angelique Geehan works to support and repair the connections people have with themselves and their families,\r\n communities, and cultural practices. A queer, Asian, gender binary-nonconforming parent, Geehan founded Interchange,\r\n a consulting group that offers anti-oppression support. She organizes as part of several groups, including the\r\n National Perinatal Association's Health Equity Workgroup, the Health and Healing Justice Committee of the National\r\n Queer and Trans Asian and Pacific Islander Alliance, QTPOC+ Family Circle, and Batalá Houston.<\/p>\r\n Angelique Geehan is a paid member of the Red Ventures Education freelance review network.<\/p>\r\n Page Last Reviewed Dec. 1, 2021<\/i><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\r\n\r\n Featured Image: Maskot \/ Maskot \/ Getty Images<\/em><\/small><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The number of women in cybersecurity has grown, but the gender gap hasn’t closed. Read on to learn about the importance of diversity in tech.","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":3621,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"states":[],"resources-overview":[],"degrees":[],"jobs-overview":[],"rankings":[],"class_list":["post-3614","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"menu_order":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberdegrees.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3614","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberdegrees.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberdegrees.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberdegrees.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberdegrees.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3614"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberdegrees.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3614\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberdegrees.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3621"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberdegrees.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3614"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberdegrees.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3614"},{"taxonomy":"states","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberdegrees.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/states?post=3614"},{"taxonomy":"resources-overview","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberdegrees.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources-overview?post=3614"},{"taxonomy":"degrees","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberdegrees.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/degrees?post=3614"},{"taxonomy":"jobs-overview","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberdegrees.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/jobs-overview?post=3614"},{"taxonomy":"rankings","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberdegrees.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rankings?post=3614"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}A Brief History of Cybersecurity<\/h2>\r\n
Cybersecurity Demographics<\/h3>\r\n
Diversity in Cybersecurity<\/h3>\r\n
Benefits to Having More Women in Technology<\/h2>\r\n
Benefits to Sectors and Industries<\/h3>\r\n
Benefits to Companies and Teams<\/h3>\r\n
How More Opportunities in Tech Benefit Women<\/h2>\r\n
Career and Salary Outlook for Women in Cybersecurity<\/h2>\r\n
Median Annual Salary<\/h3>\n
Challenges Women Face When They're Interested in Tech<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n
Closing the Gender Gap<\/h2>\r\n
Initiatives to Create Gender Diversity in Tech<\/h3>\r\n
Professional Organizations for Women in Cybersecurity<\/h3>\r\n
\r\n
Scholarships for Women Interested in Tech<\/h3>\r\n
\r\n
Educational Opportunities in Cybersecurity<\/h3>\r\n\r\n \n\n
![\"Associate](\"https:\/\/www.cyberdegrees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/GettyImages-1187635203-425x230-c-default.jpg\"\n)
\n Associate in Cybersecurity Programs<\/h4>\n
![\"Bachelor's](\"https:\/\/www.cyberdegrees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/GettyImages1-1159379067-425x230-c-default.jpg\"\n)
\n Bachelor's in Cybersecurity Programs<\/h4>\n
![\"Master's](\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/highereducation\/images\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1664375220\/CyberDegrees.org\/best-master-cyber-programs_4743668e5\/best-master-cyber-programs_4743668e5.jpg?_i=AA\"\n)
\n Master's in Cybersecurity Programs<\/h4>\n
![\"Doctorate](\"https:\/\/www.cyberdegrees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/GettyImages-1075846806-425x230-c-default.jpg\"\n)
\n Doctorate in Cybersecurity Programs<\/h4>\n
![\"Cybersecurity](\"https:\/\/www.cyberdegrees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/GettyImages-1200908449-425x230-c-default.jpg\"\n)
\n Cybersecurity Bootcamps<\/h4>\n
![\"Cybersecurity](\"https:\/\/www.cyberdegrees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/GettyImages-1213479360-425x230-c-default.jpg\"\n)
\n Cybersecurity Certificates<\/h4>\n
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\r\nFrequently Asked Questions About Women in Cybersecurity<\/h2>\r\n
What is the percentage of women in cybersecurity?<\/h3>\r\n
Why are there less women in cybersecurity than men?<\/h3>\r\n
Are the demographics in cybersecurity changing?<\/h3>\r\n
Why is diversity in tech important?<\/h3>\r\n
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\r\nReviewed by:<\/h2>\r\n
![\"Portrait](\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/highereducation\/image\/upload\/f_auto,q_auto\/c_fill,g_face,r_max,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto:best,w_190,h_190\/v1617058478\/experts\/Angelique_Geehan.jpg\")
\n Angelique Geehan<\/h4>\n
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