Gender diversity in the cybersecurity field has shown some improvement, but there are still inequities that persist, according to a recent report. The field now boasts 5% more women than it did in 2023, but female professionals are facing more workplace challenges compared to their male counterparts. The report, released by ISC2 in honor of Women’s History Month this March, highlights some concerning trends within the industry.
The 2024 Cybersecurity Workforce Study conducted by ISC2 surveyed nearly 16,000 individuals responsible for cybersecurity in workplaces around the world, with 14% of respondents being women. The study revealed that women now make up an average of 22% of global security teams, up from 17% in 2023. However, the representation of women in cybersecurity roles in the U.S. remains slightly below the global average at 19.2%.
Despite the increase in the number of women in cybersecurity, there are still obstacles to overcome. Shockingly, 16% of respondents reported that their company’s security team consists of no women at all, while only 5% claimed to have a gender-balanced team. However, it is worth noting that a majority of women in cybersecurity roles hold senior positions, with 55% of female respondents reporting that they are in managerial roles or higher. Additionally, 53% of women in cybersecurity roles have the ability to make hiring decisions, although only 7% occupy C-Suite positions such as CTO and CISO.
The report also sheds light on the challenges faced by women in the cybersecurity industry. While 67% of women in cybersecurity reported being satisfied with their job, compared to 66% of men, there has been a downward trend in job satisfaction over the years. In 2022, 82% of women and 73% of men reported job satisfaction, followed by 76% and 70% in 2023. The decline in job satisfaction is attributed to increasing economic and workload pressures within the industry.
Furthermore, women in cybersecurity roles are disproportionately exposed to various workplace challenges compared to their male counterparts. For example, 40% of women respondents reported experiencing cybersecurity budget cuts, while 42% faced hiring freezes. In contrast, only 36% of men experienced budget cuts and 37% faced hiring freezes. Additionally, 36% of women noted that their teams had frozen promotions and pay rises, compared to 31% of men.
“The data clearly shows that organizations where female participants work have experienced cybersecurity cutbacks at higher rates than male participants,” stated ISC2 analysts.
Overall, while there have been strides made in improving gender diversity in the cybersecurity field, there is still work to be done to address the inequities and challenges faced by women in the industry. Hopefully, with continued efforts and initiatives, the cybersecurity field can become a more inclusive and equitable space for all professionals.