The lack of women in cybersecurity leaves the online world at greater risk | Kiowa County Press

riskacademy — Sat, 16 May 2020 21:55:30 +0000

Women bring a much-needed change in perspective to cybersecurity. Maskot/Maskot via Getty Images

Nir Kshetri, University of North Carolina – Greensboro

Women are highly underrepresented in the field of cybersecurity. In 2017, women’s share in the U.S. cybersecurity field was 14%, compared to 48% in the general workforce.

The problem is more acute outside the U.S. In 2018, women accounted for 10% of the cybersecurity workforce in the Asia-Pacific region, 9% in Africa, 8% in Latin America, 7% in Europe and 5% in the Middle East.

Women are even less well represented in the upper echelons of security leadership. Only 1% of female internet security workers are in senior management positions.

I study online crime and security issues facing consumers, organizations and nations. In my research, I have found that internet security requires strategies beyond technical solutions. Women’s representation is important because women tend to offer viewpoints and perspectives that are different from men’s, and these underrepresented perspectives are critical in addressing cyber risks.

Perception, awareness and bias

The low representation of women in internet security is linked to the broader…

University of North Carolina – Greensboro – РИСК-АКАДЕМИЯ – АНО ДПО ИСАР

The lack of women in cybersecurity leaves the online world at greater risk | Kiowa County Press

Perception, awareness and bias