Despite a growing number choosing cybersecurity as a career, women still face pay inequality and discrimination.
New data released from the (ISC)² 2019 Cybersecurity Workforce Study reveals 22 percent of women said they have faced discrimination in their cybersecurity career. It says fewer women report achievements such as becoming a go-to specialist for their expertise or being assigned a leadership position.
Women are also paid, on average, 21 percent less than their male counterparts globally. The average salary for women cybersecurity workers in Europe is about $40,500 and for men, $67,000.
But interestingly the study finds that women and men in cybersecurity report similar satisfaction levels with their work. Sixty-nine percent of women and 66 percent of men saying they are either very or somewhat satisfied. The number is more skewed toward women in the “very satisfied” category – 34 percent vs. 27 percent of men.
It also reveals that despite the challenges, most women cybersecurity professionals are successfully progressing in their careers. Nearly a third (32 percent) say they are “exactly where I was expecting to be with my career,” compared to 20 percent of men. Another third (33 percent) of women say they are “very close” and 22 percent “moderately close” to where they expected to be.
The report notes that “women continue to make gains in the cybersecurity field. Many are embracing the profession as a rewarding career path that they plan to stay on until retirement. While the overall trend is positive, some issues still need to be addressed.
Boosting diversity
“Women in the field face more discrimination and receive lower compensation than men. If these inequities are corrected, the cybersecurity profession may attract more women. This would benefit business, by boosting diversity and attracting different points of view, and for the industry, by helping to close the workforce gap of four million workers.”
Looking ahead, more than half of women in cybersecurity (53 percent) say they “have a good idea” of their desired career path, compared to 48 percent of men. Overall, women in cybersecurity seem to have clearer expectations than men in how they envision their career tracks and the level of success they’ve attained.
“This research shows that there is still a long way to go when it comes to equal pay and opportunities for women in the cybersecurity industry, despite great progress having been made over the last few years,” Lisa Ventura, CEO and founder of the UK Cyber Security Association.
“In my experience it is true that few women in the industry talk about their achievements which is something I actively campaign to change. Women in cybersecurity should not be afraid to talk about their accomplishments and credentials for fear of animosity from their male counterparts.
“Sadly, discrimination in the industry towards women is still rife and more must be done to help women feel comfortable in their roles and as equal as their male counterparts are.”
This story has been updated with comment from Lisa Ventura
