While the underrepresentation of women in cybersecurity is starting to improve – 20% in 2019 compared to 10% in 2013, that trend isn’t translating in the higher echelons of cybersecurity power. An Altrata report estimates that only 16% of CISOs in the US are women. With the world continuing to experience a gap in the number of filled cybersecurity jobs – 3.5 million unfilled roles in 2024 – there is room for relief as more women pursue a career in cybersecurity in the years ahead – 25% in 2022 and predicted 30% by 2031.
While reports involving gender equality almost always suggest that women continue to earn less than men on average (17% on average), the take-home pay may not be the sole reason for women in CISO roles.
FutureCISO spoke to Rupal Hollenbeck, president of Check Point Software Technologies, on the long road for women in cybersecurity.
Hollenbeck noted that women's participation in cybersecurity reflects the overall situation in the technology space. She acknowledged that the challenge is more acute in the cybersecurity space as she sees fewer women in cybersecurity compared to other roles in the broader technology-career landscape.
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“We have a talent gap. We are short worldwide of 3 million people in cyber. If companies continue to look at half the population to fill that huge gap, we are missing out.”
Rupal Hollenbeck
