As the world becomes increasingly digitized, the demand for cybersecurity professionals continues to grow. And while men have long dominated this field, there are opportunities for women to join and excel in this industry. According to recent stats, only about 25% of the cyber security workforce is female. However, this number is rising, as more women recognize the importance of cybersecurity and seize the opportunities available to them. September 22nd is American Business Women’s Day and we are looking to celebrate the successes of women in the workforce and empower more women to reach their professional potential.
At YouAttest, Ashley Madison, our Director of Customer, shares her perspective as a woman in the cybersecurity industry. “Everywhere I go or anytime I am in a meeting it is noted that I am a woman in this field,” said Ashley. “And it seems to be very well received and respected, which is great.” Ashley has been working in cybersecurity for more than 10 years and has seen firsthand how the industry is evolving. “YouAttest’s very first referral was a company owned by two women, so I think we are looking at women differently,” she said. “We are not just looking for men in tech but we are looking for everyone in tech today.”
She added, “I don’t come from a tech background; my degree is in business management and it has been fascinating to learn a whole new field,” a testament to the many opportunities available to women to join the cybersecurity industry. Even without a background in IT or computer science, there are many ways for women to get started in cybersecurity. “There are a ton of classes and certifications available online and that’s all you really need to do,” said Ashley. “You don’t need a background in IT or cybersecurity from college. There are just tons of opportunities. There are many different chapters like (ISC)², ISACA, and the IIA that offer classes as well. There’s no limit to women in cybersecurity because there are so many things you can learn.”
This flexibility is one of the things that makes cybersecurity an attractive field for women. With the ability to do classes at any time and the flexibility involved, it allows the opportunity to create diversity in the cybersecurity field by giving women the ability to gain the knowledge to join this field on their time. “Diversity is so important in any industry but especially in cybersecurity,” said Ashley. “I think it’s important to have different perspectives when looking at problems and women can definitely provide that.”
Another thing that makes cybersecurity an attractive field for women is the opportunity to be recognized for their accomplishments. With days of recognition like American Business Women’s Day, Ashley said: “It makes you feel special and makes you realize that all your hard work has paid off. It’s eliminating the stigma and empowering women to grow their careers in such a male-dominated industry.”
She continued, “There is no limit – I think there are a lot of opportunities for women now.” With the ability to do classes at any time and the flexibility involved, it allows the opportunity to create diversity in the cybersecurity field by giving women the ability to gain the knowledge they need to join this field at any point in life. In an industry that has been predominantly male-dominated for so long, it is refreshing to see women like Ashley Madison taking advantage of the opportunities available to them and making a name for themselves in the field of cybersecurity with YouAttest.
