Each day, global dependency on technology increases and and so does the likelihood for security breaches.
Data breaches are costly. They impact government agencies, financial institutions, health care facilities and major corporations, with citizens and consumers suffering the consequences. In fact, a 2017 Cost of Data Breach Study, sponsored by IBM, estimates the average global cost to be $3.6 million, or $141 per data record.
Experienced cybersecurity professionals are in high demand, yet women still only make up a small fraction of the industry’s workforce. Those women that do break into tech often experience glass ceilings, insensitivity in the workplace, a lack of mentors and popular culture that only reinforces the image of their male counterparts.
Lightly put, the gender imbalance has the potential consequences for our nation’s security. So what does it take for a woman to become a leader in an industry notorious for its gender imbalance?
Our friends at Varonis analyzed that of the Fortune 500 companies only 13 percent have a woman working in their top cybersecurity position, including the chief information security officer (CISO), chief information officer (CIO) or VP of information security. From education, to work experience, and time spent in the industry, the infographic below looks at the advice of these female leaders to help change the status quo in the world of cybersecurity.
Author
Paul Slezak
With over two decades of experience in the recruitment and human capital industry, Paul Slezak has established himself as a transformative force in the realm of leadership and career coaching, group facilitation, and talent acquisition. His unique perspective, drawn from his early career as a leader in global recruitment firms and his entrepreneurial success with his own start-up, has enabled him to make a significant impact on leaders, teams, and organizations across the world. Paul's passion for helping others achieve success and high performance is evident in his commitment to transforming leaders and their teams at local, national, and international levels. He specializes in promoting the importance of human-centered intelligence, focusing on soft skills such as authenticity, transparency, and trust to complement business-centered acumen and drive better workplace outcomes. As an impartial facilitator, Paul brings his expertise to team offsites and strategy days, ensuring alignment on goals, values, and culture while keeping participants on task. His engaging and energetic presence, coupled with his unique "entertraining" and "edutaining" delivery style, enables him to connect with audiences both large and intimate, sharing personal and professional anecdotes that inspire and energize.
