A GISEC 2022 panel shares advice on increasing female representation in the talent-starved information security industry. Credit: Andrea Benito/IDG Despite much discussion about how to icrease the percentage of women in cybersecurity roles over the last decade, women make up only 25% of the global cybersecurity workforce, according to the latest (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study. The Middle East-focused Gulf Information Security Expo and Conference (GISEC), held 21-23 March 2022 in Dubai, provided a full-day panel to highlight initiatives meant to close the gender gap in cybersecurity. “Nowadays, only 25% of women are studying computer science. In 1985 that percentage was 37%. We are attracting fewer women to come to the university,” said Inass Farouk, marketing director at Microsoft UAE. At the same time women are so underrepresented, the cybersecurity is woefuly short of staff; (ISC)2 estimates that the cybersecurity industry urgently needs 2.5 million professionals. Unconscious biases and a lack of female role models continue to be reasons why girls give up a technological career at an early age, the panelists agreed. “We need programs to mentor women who want to be in cybersecurity; the lack of skills in the market is hurting us. Companies need to create new talents to join them,” said Hila Meller, cofounder of Leading Cyber Ladies. As an example, she said, “in my company, an annual cybersecurity program started in the UK where we teach different disciplines in the cybersecurity when you finish a program, you get the experience to take senior roles as a cybersecurity professional.” The panelists agreed that the industry must work together to remove the prejudice that cybersecurity is a gender-specific field, as well as change the perception that it is purely a computer science discipline. In cybersecurity, technology is just one of the silver bullets needed to eliminate cyberattacks. “Changes take time, but we need people to understand that cybersecurity is not coding at a desk,” said Heidi Young, cofounder of Women in Cybersecurity in the Middle East. “I was not aware of the opportunities in this field when I was younger.” One approach is to look for cybersecurity candidates in oter fields, she said: “In our association Women in Cybersecurity in the Middle East, there are women with a background in legal for example.” Outreach to women — and engaging with women who reach out themselves — is a critical way to increase the number of women in the field. “It’s a good opportunity for women to network and find mentors to guide them,” said Eman Alkhatib, regional sales director at CyberKnight Technologies. She recalled her own experience: “At the beginning, I was lost. So I tried to network with the right people and ask the right questions. Those mentors helped me to create my own roadmaps in the cybersecurity and most important, be confident,” she said. “It is great to show our faces to the students, just to talk about women in cybersecurity and how successful and happy they are about what they are doing,” Alkhatib said. “We need to focus more on the new graduates, we see them all over the place, and we need organizations to empower ladies and align their skills and interest.” Related content feature 10 most difficult-to-fill IT roles — and how to address the gap With AI, cybersecurity, and data analytics talent in short supply, IT leaders are upskilling, recruiting from the business, highlighting culture, and relying on contractors to secure the talent they need. By Stephanie Overby May 28, 2024 11 mins Hiring Staff Management feature Sun Country enhances customer experience with IT The low-cost regional airline turned to IT to develop a self-service e-voucher program aimed at easing the hassles that come with flight delays and cancellations. By Paula Rooney May 28, 2024 6 mins CIO 100 Travel and Hospitality Industry Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by Cyber NewsWire INE Security Enables CISOs to Secure Board Support for Cybersecurity Training By Cyber NewsWire - Paid Press Release May 27, 2024 7 mins Cyberattacks Security news DEI MIA in new Meta AI advisory group Exec with Responsible AI Institute says it’s ‘problematic’ that founding members are all white males. By Paul Barker May 27, 2024 4 mins Diversity and Inclusion Artificial Intelligence PODCASTS VIDEOS RESOURCES EVENTS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe