Where are all the women?

A feature unearthing the continued lack of representation of Women in Cybersecurity

First and foremost, for those who maybe haven’t either come across the term cybersecurity or been made aware of the current gender inequalities in industry, within this report I’m aiming to scratch the surface of an ongoing problem and the current successes in which to counteract it. 

Shocking figures tell us that women account for only 11% of the total, global cybersecurity workforce. Additionally, a mere 9% of students within Germany studying Computer Science are women. Experts estimate that there are currently over 1 million unfilled positions within the industry.

So where are all the women?

I watched him for weeks on end pacing back on forth in the small, four-walled box he knew as his office. Back and forth. Back and forth. The telephone lines ringing constantly, but with news that was eagerly anticipated or news that created more tension, more complications and more work-load?

Determination was thriving through his bones; he wouldn’t stop until it he could lay out the foundation for Women in Cybersecurity everywhere. In the midst of the chaos, I was slowly learning what this all was about. Why was he doing this? Why did he have so much passion for such a niche subject? Why weren’t other people doing anything about it?

The transparency of the problem become clear to me within the weeks if chaos, statistics like “only 7% of women in Europe work in Cyber security” were thrown around. Alarming statistics, don’t you think?

It started out with the understanding that women aren’t fairly represented in Cybersecurity, and that the fact the field was male dominated needed to change. Images of men in dark rooms sat in front of a computer screen, in a dirty hoodie with last nights dinner by their side are conjured up when asked “what does cybersecurity mean to you?”. Images of the green code reeling along the screen like in the Matrix. 

The connotation of cybersecurity and the possibilities in it were unnamed and misconstrued. 

Then it came. 

The day we had all been waiting for. Endless keystrokes on the work laptops, endless numbers dialled pleading for support and sponsorship. The purple, green and white logo shared all over the place, LinkedIn, Facebook, twitter. The movement began. 

Starting with the creation of the event “Cyberwomen 2019”. An event aimed at generating a foundation for all women, of every level within the industry, to exchange information, skills and knowledge. alongside the creation of the event, which is being sponsored by well-known companies like Deliotte, Allianz and PWC, Dr Schellong has began to tackle the cause via internal communications. He often uses the companies LinkedIn page to post often about the celebration of women, the acknowledgement of International Women’s day back in March and also recognising the strength of Women in Cyber of Mothers Day.

White gleaming floors, ceiling to floor windows allowing the light to dominate through the room. And there he was. Seemingly stressed and sweaty, but with a smile on his face. It had worked, it really had. With over 200 people at the event, our Women in Cybersecurity movement had been a success. Speakers from all over the world attended, imparting wisdom, shocking statistics and a can-do attitude of the faces of all these women in cybersecurity, who felt like they didn’t belong.  

“How is everything? Is it all going well? What can I do to help?” another assistant asked panickily. The last four months were riding on the success of this, and we all knew it. Just one slip up could mean funding was cut and the idea of a foundations being built annually her in Munich for these women would be over. Note after note being handed in at the desk, change being given, ID cards being dealt out like cards in a card game. All these people were extremely important.

And then she came in. Her blonde hair peaking under her beret, her golden medals gleaming on the left of her body. She spoke with confidence; assertiveness and we were compelled to the spot. She spoke of problems in the field, solutions in which she was trying herself, but she couldn’t do it without our help. She praised the man who had made this all happen, the man who had put all his time and effort into this one event. 

You could tell he felt like there was a constant battle for the equality of women in the work-place, and especially in cybersecurity. Did you know women in the USA earn only $0.80 to every dollar that men earn?

This is a problem that needs to be tackled. And it’s through men like my boss who can being to make a difference, by starting these events and foundations.

The success of CyberWomen2019 was profound. Once again, fingers on keyboards, endless numbers being dialled and same drive that I once saw 4 months ago is back. We need it in 2020. And then plan is underway.

Although many large companies have finally began to acknowledge the level of male domination in the industry, studies suggest that it will take more than a miracle to balance out the inequality.