Communications of the ACM
Get a Security Boost: Add More Women to Your Cyber Team
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A dearth of women in IT and cybersecurity positions may be playing a role in the frequent failure of enterprise cybersecurity strategies and defense, according to a new report from (ISC)2/Frost & Sullivan/Symantec. Just 11 percent of the cyber workforce is female despite double-digit yearly increases in the cybersecurity profession, and this trend is worrisome given that women often have more diverse academic backgrounds and viewpoints than men. Such traits could help expedite change needed in the information security sector.
A new, more diverse skill set is required because the cybersecurity discipline has evolved to include threats such as a competitive global marketplace, conflicting regulatory requirements, and the adoption of new technologies. ISC(2) determined that men and women diverge in the way they define the various proficiencies needed to be an effective cybersecurity professional, and the novel skills women contribute may be essential in addressing that threat evolution.
The report also found little variation in average job tenure, median and average annual salary, and academic background among men and women serving in senior cybersecurity capacities. However, ISC(2) Foundation director Julie Peeler says these differences became more profound among junior-level workers, where women tend to be more educated and less well-compensated than men.
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Abstracts Copyright © 2013 Information Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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