t cht lk if they want to build successful cybersecurity teams , they need to broaden the scope of backgrounds they consider when looking for new employees .
But the challenge goes beyond hiring . The reality is that women in cybersecurity roles also tend to be promoted more slowly than men-something known as the “ first rung ” problem . According to Fortinet CISO Renee Tarun , “ Men are four times more likely to hold executive roles than their female counterparts , they ’ re nine times more likely to have managerial roles than women , and [ on average ] they ’ re paid 6 % more than women .” In addition , women tend to leave the field at twice the rate of men , citing gender bias , discrimination , and harassment as their reasons for leaving .
Five steps for creating a more diverse and inclusive cybersecurity workforce
In addition to the primary objectives of the UN ’ s Sustainable Development Goals that call for equality and equity for women ( goals four and five ), organisations need to seriously consider how to merge their DEI ( Diversity , Equity , and Inclusion ) objectives into their equally important digital innovation strategies . Because the evidence is clear : businesses that employ gender equality practices across their organisation report increased profitability and productivity .
Given the rate at which digital innovation is transforming organisations ( and the efforts of cybercriminals to exploit those digital acceleration efforts ), now is the time to break our cybersecurity stereotypes . We must work together to remove the bias that cybersecurity is a gender-specific field and change the perception that it is purely a computer science discipline . In cybersecurity , technology is only one of the silver bullets required to eliminate cyberattacks . The three critical elements of an effective cybersecurity strategy are People , Products , and Processes . But when we continue to recruit the same people-same gender , same educational background , same perspective-we are unlikely to develop strategies that allow us to get out ahead of our cyber adversaries . For example , it is not a stretch to say that the failure to rethink security strategiesstarting with who makes up our cybersecurity teams-played a part in the nearly 1,100 % increase in ransomware attacks organisations worldwide experienced last year .
To change this perception and get out ahead of the cybercrime crisis we all face , we must bring more voices , perspectives , and diversity to our cybersecurity teams . Here are five basic principles we need to adopt as we work to refine our cybersecurity teams and strategies :
Highlight the contributions of women in cybersecurity in our classrooms and businesses , identify and promote positive role models and examples , and actively encourage diverse career paths , experiences , and job functions to our young women .
Encourage young women to pursue STEM-based degrees and careers at a young age .
Create and / or be part of mentorship programs at all levels , beginning with basic technology classes in elementary schools that model success in technology for girls that continues throughout their higher education and professional careers .
Implement more inclusive work environments by identifying and breaking bias in hiring practices , training all employees ( not just executives ) about true inclusiveness , and actively making every employee feel involved , valued , and respected . And we need to ensure that women , especially women of colour , are treated fairly and are fully embedded in the workplace .
Eliminate “ first rung ” barriers by actively promoting more women to leadership at every level of the organisation , beginning with roles as project and team leads and first-tier managers .
This must be a commitment we are all willing to make . On this day , we reaffirm our commitment to promoting gender diversity , equity , and inclusion inside Fortinet by helping engage more women in the cybersecurity sector through concrete action across the above strategies .
Greater awareness
Cybersecurity plays an essential role in our modern society . However , a variety of skills and experiences must come together to guarantee the cyber industry ’ s success . And as with any other industry , diversity is crucial . By bringing greater awareness to the diverse skills and backgrounds cybersecurity requires , we can help shrink both the gender and skills gaps while making strides in our battle with our cyber adversaries .
Cybersecurity offers many fulfiling career paths and opportunities for women . Because technologyand cyberthreats-continue to accelerate , it is an industry in constant evolution , making the field of cybersecurity very stimulating intellectually . And because there are so many open jobs to fill , this sector is also attractive financially . But joining the cybersecurity industry also means having a significant impact on society . We live in a digital world where protecting data and individual privacy has become a critical sustainability issue . And as always , women play a vital role in making this possible . p
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