Women represent only 11% of the global information security workforce, including in financial services, despite a shortage of cybersecurity skilled personnel overall.
Credit unions have to be more security-minded as staff and members connect through many devices. However, in seeking help, credit unions must realize that the information security profession worldwide and domestically is growing in numbers, yet falling increasingly behind in meeting increasing market demand, according to the latest (ISC)2 Global Information Security Workforce Study, performed in partnership with Booz Allen Hamilton.
The study found that attracting more women into the predominantly male InfoSec profession, would lessen the workforce shortfall. Yet, as the GISWS revealed, the proportion of women to men has been stubbornly stagnant over the last two years.
A Women in Security Report survey, a subset of the GISWS, revealed the following about women in InfoSec:
- Make up only 11% of the information security workforce.
- Currently dominate governance, risk and compliance areas of information security.
- Account for roughly a third of workers at many tech firms, with fewer in leadership and technology roles.
Breaking it down further: 17% of the 13,930 men and women surveyed in the GISWS study indicated that they were in the banking/insurance/finance fields. Another 11% of female respondents were in the banking/insurance/finance fields; and 6% of female respondents were a chief information security officer, chief security officer or critical infrastructure assurance officer.
It is not clear whether gender bias plays a role in certain information security opportunities for women. “It is definitely an opportunity to fill this workforce gap. We just have to find the reasons why less women are excited about the industry or are thwarted from joining the industry or getting the necessary support,” Elise Yacobellis, (ISC)2 business development strategist, said. “As the workforce is growing, more men than women are joining at a rapid rate.”
Read more about a the shortage of women in information security in the Oct. 12, 2016 issue of CUTimes.
