Gender gap stark as only 21% of women work in cyber security

HYDERABAD: In India, there is a huge gender disparity in the cyber security workforce as only 21% of them are women, revealed speakers at the launch of the CyberShikshaa initiative. They pointed out that businesses which are more gender diverse are more successful.
“Today, having more women in the field is even more crucial as the cybersecurity issues are complex and need to be addressed with multiple perspectives in mind,” said Kate Behncken, vice president and global head of Microsoft Philanthropies.
She said that in countries where Microsoft is expanding its programme, on average only 17% of women are working in the field of cybersecurity.
“Whether it is in Australia, India, or the USA, the one thing that all these countries have in common, besides the skill gap, is the shocking gender disparity,” she added.
Hari Balachandran, CEO of ICT Academy, said that the CyberShikshaa initiative has been designed to ensure higher participation of women educators and women graduating students from rural geographies, to create an equitable and diverse cybersecurity talent pool.
“The lack of technical training or formal certifications is the barrier for any woman to begin a career in cybersecurity. Reaching out to rural students, creating awareness among women, and helping them learn and qualify at their convenience will generate more women professionals in the field. Particularly, empowering educators will create a sustainable impact in developing skilled professionals,” he added.