How Women in Tech Are Shaping the Future of Cybersecurity

According to a 2023 (ISC)² report, women comprised about 24 percent of the global cybersecurity workforce—a significant increase from 11 percent in 2013.

As a result of this positive shift, women have increasingly served in leadership roles in cybersecurity, with some becoming Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) while others lead groundbreaking research in threat analysis and AI-driven security solutions.

This growth is very positive for a field that, according to a 2022 report by Cybersecurity Ventures, will have 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs globally. Encouraging more talent and greater diversity will be key to closing this gap.

However, it's important to take a moment to highlight how women have shaped the cybersecurity field. Here are five ways that the Cipher team sees women positively influencing tech already:

Diversity of thought is crucial to responding quickly and effectively when faced with rapidly evolving and incredibly creative threats.

Women in cybersecurity can take a new approach to these challenges, combining technical expertise with a different perspective of human behavior. This can be helpful in fighting back against events like social engineering attacks—like phishing—where training and communication needs to consider both technological vulnerabilities and psychological factors.

The cybersecurity industry faces a massive talent shortage, and increasing female participation is key to addressing this challenge.

A more diverse workforce not only brings new ideas and response strategies but also strengthens global security efforts by ensuring a larger pool of skilled professionals. Organizations like Girls Who Code and Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) encourage young women to pursue careers in cybersecurity, providing training, networking opportunities, and mentorship to give the next generation of female cyber professionals the skills they need to succeed.

Women are not just filling roles—they are driving innovation in cybersecurity.

From AI's impact to privacy-enhancing technologies, women are at the forefront of developing new solutions that improve security infrastructure. One classic example is Parisa Tabriz, or Google’s "Security Princess," an early leader in the company’s efforts to strengthen browser security and protect users from cyberthreats. Similarly, women have significantly contributed to encryption technology, blockchain security, and secure coding practices, helping to build more resilient and adaptable networks.

Representation matters, especially in fields where women have historically been underrepresented. That's why, when young girls see and are supported by successful women excelling in cybersecurity, it helps to open doors for future generations.

Organizations like Cyberjutsu and SheSecures are already accomplishing much in this space. They are creating a pipeline of female talent by offering scholarships, training, and mentorship programs. These initiatives are helping to ensure that future cyber professionals are more reflective of the organizations they support.

Women are also shaping the culture of the cybersecurity field by promoting more inclusive and collaborative practices.

The cybersecurity industry is known for its high-stress environment, where nearly two-thirds of professionals say stress affects their ability to do their job. However, female leaders are introducing more balanced approaches to work, encouraging teamwork, and emphasizing mental health and professional development. For example, Wendy Nather, a leading cybersecurity expert, has advocated for more inclusive and ethical security practices in government and in corporate settings. At the same time, women like Katie Moussouris have played key roles in developing ethical hacking frameworks, more responsible AI usage, and promoting data privacy.

Building cyber resilience requires a shift in mindset from mere prevention to rapid detection, response, and recovery. Fortunately, proven tools, policies, and best practices like those shared here help organizations accelerate and enhance their cyber resilience programs before the unthinkable happens.

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