Gender Diversity in Cybersecurity: Why the Field Needs More Women

Written by: University of Tulsa
Published on Jan 4, 2024 • Modified on Sep 28, 2026

A cybersecurity analyst at a workstation with code displayed on a monitor.

Global cybersecurity threats are poised to affect every industry that uses internet-connected data systems today, and there simply aren’t enough cybersecurity professionals to meet the demand.

Severe cybersecurity worker shortages render all companies vulnerable to attack. Data breaches, phishing attacks, and extended service outages are on the rise. Even where staffing is sufficient, unprepared staff leave companies vulnerable. According to cybersecurity company Proofpoint, 79% of chief information security officers (CISOs) surveyed in 2026 said that human error was their biggest cybersecurity vulnerability. A strong cybersecurity workforce can prevent cybercrimes.

Organizations must recruit and retain more cybersecurity professionals. According to 2024 data from ISC2, women make up just 22% of the cybersecurity workforce. Given the critical need, companies can do more to train, hire, and promote women in cybersecurity roles.

Earning a Master of Science (M.S.) in Cyber Security can help women prepare to close this challenging gap. Learn more about gender diversity in cybersecurity and what organizational changes may help meet the soaring demand for cybersecurity expertise.

The Cybersecurity Workforce Gap and Why Diversity Matters

Cybersecurity professionals are pivotal to safeguarding private information. Cyber attacks have become more sophisticated, frequent, and damaging, demanding advanced security measures. According to IBM, the global average cost of a data breach as of 2026 was $4.99 million, marking a 12% increase in just one year.

Many industries are recognizing the urgent need for trained cybersecurity workers. Nationwide, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment of information security analysts, a position with a median annual wage of $129,180 as of 2025, will increase 21% between 2025 and 2035, with 14,100 job openings available each year.

While understanding the escalating demands of the cybersecurity field is crucial, it’s also important to recognize how diversifying its workforce, including by increasing the number of women, can not only meet these demands but also substantially fortify the sector.

How Organizations Benefit from More Women in Cybersecurity

Increasing the number of women in cybersecurity roles is about leveraging the full spectrum of available talent. Consider three ways that organizations benefit from having more women in cybersecurity:

Providing Broader Perspectives

Gender diversity drives innovation. Women working in cybersecurity bring lived experiences and unique perspectives. For example, 27% of women report having experienced online harassment, such as doxxing and cyberbullying.

Moreover, a gender-diverse team considers a broader range of perspectives, experiences, and problem-solving methods. As cyber attacks become more varied and complex, information technology (IT) teams need to harness all the tools they can.

Increasing Cross-Team Communications

Effective communication can bridge the gap between technical cybersecurity solutions and the people they protect. Diverse perspectives can improve collaboration, innovation, and communication within cybersecurity teams and across companies.

Women in cybersecurity roles can help close the understanding gap across their organizations. Generalizations about the skills and capabilities of “all women in tech” should be avoided. However, many women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields have needed to work with people who may not share their perspectives. This means women in cybersecurity roles may have an edge when it comes to communicating both inside and outside their teams.

Improving Recruitment

Motivating more women to immerse themselves in the world of cybersecurity paves the way for the mentorship of other women and sparks inspiration for future generations. Research reported in Forbes indicates that when young girls hear about STEM careers from women role models, it positively influences their ambitions in these fields.

Women have been working in cybersecurity for years, but their contributions to the field are often underacknowledged. During World War II, cryptographers worked to facilitate international intelligence efforts. Their work intercepting and breaking codes, as well as encoding messages, is thought of as a precursor to what cybersecurity professionals do today.

More recently, many women deserve recognition for their excellence in cybersecurity leadership:

Theresa Payton became the first woman chief information officer at the White House, serving from 2006 to 2008.
Letitia A. Long was the first woman to lead a major U.S. intelligence agency, serving as director of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency from 2010 to 2014.
Melissa Hathaway served as acting senior director for cyberspace for the National Security Council in 2009.
Jeanette Manfra served the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) as the assistant director for cybersecurity from 2018 to 2019.

As the need for online security expands, promoting gender diversity in cybersecurity can benefit organizations.

Challenges to Increasing the Percentage of Women in Cybersecurity

The cybersecurity field has much to gain from more women joining its workforce. However, to make the field more inclusive, employers should acknowledge some of the factors that have contributed to its current gender gap.

Contributing Factors

Gender-based discrimination is not uncommon in cybersecurity. ISC2’s 2024 survey of cybersecurity employees found that 29% of women had felt discriminated against at work at some point.

The gender wage gap in many professions is a pressing concern, and the cybersecurity field is not immune to this disparity. According to ISC2, women in cybersecurity make nearly $10,000 less, on average, than men.

Additionally, according to the “Women in Cybersecurity 2022 Report” published by Cybersecurity Ventures, cultural depictions of cybercriminals and the cybersecurity experts who protect against their attacks tend to exclude women.

“If you look at media reports, you see dark stock images of men in hoodies, typing away in basements,” states the report. The report also notes how gendered language has crept into cybersecurity terminology, as in the man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack. “Logos, wording, and branding in cybersecurity are often what we consider ‘masculine.’ We must change the perception and awareness of STEM fields to encourage gender diversity.”

These statistics underscore the social and financial disparities women face in professional cybersecurity environments. To increase the percentage of women in cybersecurity, organizations can start by addressing discriminatory and exclusionary aspects of their work cultures and paying their employees equitably.

Addressing the Cybersecurity Gender Gap

Tackling the gender gap in cybersecurity is crucial. Here are several ways that companies can approach this challenge:

Educational Partnerships

The cybersecurity gender gap starts in school. Companies can collaborate actively with schools, colleges, and universities to introduce cybersecurity as a promising career choice for young women.

For instance, a Deloitte campaign covered by Forbes amplified cybersecurity career opportunities for working women, highlighting roles like ethical hacker and cyber strategist, with the goal of clarifying misunderstandings about the nature of the field and the skills required to break into it.

Revamped Recruitment

The hiring process is a critical phase where many unconscious biases can creep in. Companies can proactively work to ensure their job descriptions and hiring practices are inclusive.

In addition, promoting diverse interview panels and specifically recruiting through women-focused tech events or platforms to recruit cybersecurity employees can help tilt the balance.

Continuous Professional Development

To ensure longevity in any career, continuous learning is key. Organizations can offer ongoing training sessions, workshops, and conferences. Women in cybersecurity leadership roles can promote a strong, diverse workforce at every level of their organization.

By actively supporting their growth, companies benefit from having highly skilled employees and demonstrate their commitment to inclusive workforce advancement.

Mentorship Programs

Women entering the cybersecurity field may feel isolated or misunderstood. Strong women role models can provide valuable insights into navigating the field’s unique challenges and nuances.

By establishing mentorship initiatives, companies can offer women support and encouragement. They help newcomers navigate the intricacies of the field and encourage them to move into leadership roles.

Inclusive Work Culture

An inclusive work culture in cybersecurity means a setting where individuals of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences have equal opportunities to contribute and succeed.

Creating an environment that promotes respect, equity, and safety is crucial, as is creating space for open dialogue. Companies can actively solicit feedback on diversity and inclusion initiatives, encouraging regular discussions where concerns can be aired and experiences shared.

Beyond Gender: Cybersecurity Diversity

Gender diversity is just one factor in bringing innovation into cybersecurity. Diversity also encompasses differences in age, country of origin, sexual orientation, ability, race, and ethnicity — as well as educational background, previous job experience, and technical training.

In a global digital environment, cybersecurity efforts extend beyond national borders. The digital world is diverse, with users from just about every demographic and geographic location. A diverse cybersecurity team may better understand the nuances and varied needs of this global user base than a team composed of people from the same country with the same demographic background.

Consider this insight from Maurice Gibson, cybersecurity leader at mthree:

“When I think of diversity in cybersecurity, I’m not just looking at the colors in the room or the gender ratio. It’s also about the richness of experiences, viewpoints, and unique skills each one of us brings to the table,” Gibson says.

A team with diverse expertise can better anticipate, understand, and counteract diverse threats, and can build a cybersecurity infrastructure that is robust, versatile, and adaptive.

Leaders like Gibson emphasize that cybersecurity is as much creative as it is technical. Team members who employ their unique experiences strengthen the team as a whole.

“Considering the multifaceted nature of cyber threats, we cannot afford a one-dimensional approach. Threats are continuously changing, adapting, and trying to outsmart us. A diverse team … provides a comprehensive understanding of potential dangers, ensuring we address and anticipate them effectively,” Gibson says.

Take the Next Step: Earn a Degree in Cybersecurity

While technical skills matter in cybersecurity, so does the breadth of experiences and perspectives that come with a diverse workforce. Broad perspectives can help solve unique challenges.

Are you ready to start a career in cybersecurity? For individuals with an undergraduate degree in a technical field looking to advance their career, earning a graduate degree might be the right next step. The University of Tulsa offers an Online M.S. in Cyber Security program with three optional specializations that can be completed in 20 months.

Learn more about getting started in this field with the online Master of Science in Cyber Security program at TU.

Recommended Readings

8 Cybersecurity Research Topics for Master’s Students

In-Demand Cybersecurity Automation Tools for Professionals

Cryptology vs. Cryptography: Understanding the Distinctions

Sources:

Cybersecurity Guide, “How to Get Into Cybersecurity: A Guide for Career Building”

Cybersecurity Ventures, “Women in Cybersecurity 2022 Report”

Forbes, “Change the Perception, Change the Numbers: How to Create a More Diverse, Gender-Balanced Cyber Workforce”

Great Place to Work, “Why Diverse and Inclusive Teams Are the Engines of Innovation”

The Hill, “Tackling the Labor Shortage in Cybersecurity”

IBM, Cost of a Data Breach Report 2026