The Current and Future Female Leaders of Cybersecurity
In our increasingly technological world, cybersecurity is a field of growing importance. Statistics show that by 2020, the cybersecurity market will be worth about $170 billion. Unfortunately, this rapidly developing field is majorly skewed in favor of men. Women face a number of challenges when it comes to entering cybersecurity.
For one, computers and tech-related fields have always been marketed towards men. Women who do manage to make their way into tech-related fields face a lot of discrimination and hostility. According to a survey, over half of women in cybersecurity felt discriminated against in some way, and 87% felt the gender bias was actually unconscious. Whether conscious or not, the fact remains that the cybersecurity field is less than welcoming for women.
The Future of Cybersecurity
Considering these factors, inspiring young girls to discover the field of cybersecurity seems like a daunting task. Even so, while cybersecurity is predicted to grow exponentially, there is also an expected shortage of 1.8 million cybersecurity professionals in the years to come. This number means that is there much opportunity for women to finally break the glass ceiling in the field — and today, it is more important than ever that they do so.
A research paper titled “New Ways to Bring Women Into and Up Through Cybersecurity Careers” by Laura Bate and Elizabeth Weingarten details how the lack of gender diversity in cybersecurity actually means poorer security itself: “Women make up less than one-quarter of the cybersecurity workforce, which can lead to less innovation, inferior design, seriously underutilized human potential, and needlessly unfilled jobs in a growing field.”
In our interconnected world, having a diverse group of cybersecurity experts will allow for more innovation from many different perspectives, an asset that will come in handy considering the rapid pace at which cybercriminals operate. The increasing number of cyberattacks on both individuals and businesses is proof that secured connections are of the utmost importance.
This includes advanced security measures when it comes to accessing the internet using Wi-Fi as well as cellular data. More and more individuals are turning to cellular data to protect their privacy. However, if a smartphone is compromised, even this is not enough to protect data from prying eyes online.
The integration of women into the cybersecurity industry is essential to combat threats like these. Women need to be involved not only at entry levels, but in leadership positions too. Adequate attention from senior management has been shown to be one of the most effective strengthening factors in an organization’s capability to mitigate cybersecurity risks. Leaders who actively implement cybersecurity best practices are more likely to inspire employees to follow suit, safeguarding the entire organization’s online integrity.
In this regard, women in leadership positions within cybersecurity are positioned to make a true difference to the future of this field. Ann Barron-DiCamillo is a shining example of a woman who continues to contribute to the cybersecurity field. Barron-DiCamillo was the chief of the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) and sought to defend against cyberattacks and data breaches across the U.S. Currently, she works as the VP of Cyber Threat Intelligence and Incident Response at American Express, giving her experience in both the private and public sector.
The Female Leaders of Cybersecurity
Barron-DiCamillo is not the only woman shattering the myth that women “don’t belong” in cybersecurity. Here are some examples of inspiring women who shatter misconceptions in this industry:
Window Snyder
Window Snyder is the Chief Security Officer of Intel’s Platform Security Division. In the past, she worked at Microsoft, Apple, and Mozilla, revolutionizing how they deal with security threats. As an industry veteran, Snyder’s security philosophy also deals with how Intel pursues new markets like the internet of things. Her years of experience paired with her forward-thinking approach makes her one of the most coveted cybersecurity experts around.
Cecily Joseph
Cecily Joseph is the Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at Symantec, a global leader in security solutions. Apart from her extensive knowledge of cybersecurity, Joseph focuses on improving the sustainability efforts of the company. In an interview with Triple Pundit, she states that, under her guidance, the company has “adopted the Women’s Empowerment Principles … (and augmented) our approach to increase diversity at Symantec and empower women to work in technology.” Leaders like her are necessary to further the cause for diversity in cybersecurity through company-wide mentorship and continued learning programs.
Runa Sandvik
Runa Sandvik is the Senior Director of Information Security at the New York Times. Sandvik got her first computer at 15 and quickly became obsessed with how it functioned. With an interest in information security from an early age, Sandvik got involved in hacking and privacy online. Today, she has revolutionized security procedures, implementing two-factor authentication for reporters, securing communication methods, and installing advanced protection for subscriber accounts.
These examples show that women indeed fit right into the cybersecurity field and can contribute greatly to its future. Heroes in their own right, these women belong in cybersecurity, helping shape the future of this field alongside their male peers.
