Survey: Men in cybersecurity are four times more likely to hold C-suite positions than women

BY CSO Forum India
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Apr 03, 2017
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Even after 4 years, women in cybersecurity still represent only11% of the total global workforce

Where are the women in cybersecurity? - CSO Forum India

According to a new report by Center for Cyber Safety and Education, the employment gap in cybersecurity is on the rise, with women representing only 11% of the total workforce. Even more distressing is that eventhough women have higher levels of education than men, with 51% holding a master’s degree or higher, compared to 45% of men - they still earned less than men at every level in 2016. The state of women in IT is much the same. The report highlights that North Americat employs 14% of women in cybersecurity as compared to Asia at 8%.

Unfortunately women are still underrepresented in the workforce. Currently, men outnumber women by a wide margin on nine to one. This is an appaling figure. What is further unacceptable is that the state of women in cybersecurity is much the same as their proximate neighbors: Women in IT.

We recently did a cover story in February on the state of women leaders in enterprise IT. We found that women primarily tackle four common problems in every step of their professional growth that includes unconscious bias, motherhood, lack of good mentors and limited opportunities in middle leadership. The above challenges are almost identical to the issues faced by women in cybersecurity.

Underpresentation

Disenfranchisement in Information Security

Burgeoning Salary Gap

At the leadership level, the report indicates that this trend is even more notable, where, women leaders dispropotionately occupy entry-level and non-managerial positions and men dominate all senior roles, including Directors, Executive Management and the C-Suite. The lack of internal and external mentorship as well as leadership development programs are the factors responsible for this growing trend.

Unfortunaltely, the report notes that 11% figure of women in cyberseurity hasn't changed in the last four years or the fact that even now, men are four times more likely to hold C-suite and executive-level roles. By 2022, research by Frost and Sullivan indicates that the gap between available qualified professionals and vacant positions will grow to 1.8 million. One way to curb this gap is by employee more women. Wouldn't that adres the address the gender and skill gap simultaneously?

By 2022, research by Frost and Sullivan indicates that the gap between available qualified professionals and vacant positions will grow to 1.8 million. One way to curb this gap is by employee more women.

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cybersecurity