Diversity in workplaces is a growing need of this era. Every company is in the race to reduce the gender gap ratio and add more women to influential positions. The cybersecurity industry is also striving to do the same. There is a subtle but growing demand to include women in cybersecurity and reduce the gender gap in this male-dominated profession.
We cannot blame this gap on a small number of professionals. The IT industry is one of the biggest in the world and has millions of employees working in different departments. India itself produces 1.5 million engineer graduates each year, on approximate. Of this, less than 30% are women. The number increases slightly if you consider employability. At the same time, the cybersecurity industry in India is growing rapidly and is projected to be worth USD 35 billion by 2025. Increasing diversity and the number of female cybersecurity experts will help the industry grow even more.
This is the right time for women IT professionals, students, and other individuals to consider a career in ethical hacking and other cybersecurity jobs. Many new job opportunities are coming up with a clear scope for gender balance. As a part of this industry, you’ll get a chance to be a trendsetter in the coming future.
The Need for Gender Balance in the Cybersecurity Industry
Several industries depend on technology to run their business. As more and more operations are digitized, the threat from hackers is increasing. Such issues have increased the need for cybersecurity experts, and the number of professionals in this field is too low. A survey suggested that about 53% of organizations have testified to have a shortage of cybersecurity skills. If you combine this requirement with the diversity movement, it is undoubtedly the right time for female cybersecurity experts to take center stage. However, with more ethical hacking jobs for women, it is easy to close the talent gap and improve the industry’s condition.
Besides this, striving for gender balance has always proven beneficial for the companies that have experimented with it. Diverse workspaces mean more perspectives, better growth and learning opportunities, and improve in reputation. If we talk about cybersecurity in India, more businesses are adopting corresponding policies and employing professionals. IT professionals as well as students have shown interest in these job roles and many have started pursuing certification courses to start a professional career. But the sad fact is that the number of women in this profession is still not growing, and workplaces are still struggling to find solutions beyond traditional approaches.
The cybersecurity industry is male-dominated, but the scenario is slowly changing. Tessian interviewed 200 female cybersecurity professionals, out of which 49 percent revealed that Covid-19 had a positive impact on their career. The same survey found that 89 percent of women felt secure in their jobs. Given the gender disproportion, many companies have created new initiatives to attract more women in cybersecurity roles.
Why Women Are Underrepresented in Cybersecurity
The apparent deterrent for women to pursue a career in ethical hacking or any cybersecurity field is the perception that cybersecurity is a job for men. There’s a stereotype that women aren’t suited for these roles. Only 1% of female cybersecurity professionals are in leadership positions. In India, the number of top women in cybersecurity is even lower than this.
These perceptions may deter women from breaking into the field of cybersecurity. However, it is essential to look at the opportunities in this field. While there are several challenges for women in the ethical hacking industry, when you’re fortified with potential solutions, it penetrates and stays in any sector easier.
Future of Cybersecurity Jobs for Women
Several organizations are now fervently looking for women in cybersecurity to diversify their security teams. There are several ethical hacking jobs in India which means that women can consider a career with additional job security. There are women penetration testers as well as ethical hackers, blockchain professionals, etc., in Fortune 500 companies. Women are analysts by nature, and that they make great research scholars as well. It is also a rewarding career with ethical hacker salary in India starting at 3.5 lakhs per year and goes up to 15 lakhs. As a woman in IT industry, this transition will not only get you a better paygrade but will also provide you job security.
Here are some career options for aspiring female cybersecurity experts:
◉ Security Systems Administrator
◉ Information Security Analyst
◉ Lead software engineer
◉ Chief Information Security Officer
◉ Certified Ethical Hacker
◉ Global information security director
◉ Security Architect
◉ Security consultant
◉ IT Security Engineer
◉ Forensic Computer Analyst
◉ IT Security Consultant
Easy Transition to Cybersecurity Job Roles with EC-Council
As the largest certification body for Information Security professionals worldwide, EC-Council has been one of the voices advocating for more women in cybersecurity jobs. There is a clear shortage of ethical hackers in India, and these certification courses provide a chance for professionals from other industries to transition and find better job options. Being one of the topmost names for ethical hacker courses in India, EC-Council makes sure that their certified professionals create a benchmark on the industry.
EC-Council is on a mission to empower women. We pledge to work towards a gender-equal cybersecurity world. We are now offering upto a 25% discount on all courses & certifications to women aspirants. Our dedicated women-oriented programs will encourage new and current women undergraduates and graduates with tuition assistance worth $2500 so that they can come closer to their career goals.
Source: eccouncil.org
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