By, Claire Clark, VP, Engineering and Operations, Titania
People around the world commemorate Women’s History Month. Although sometimes, when we look at the cybersecurity industry, there isn’t much to celebrate. Women have made tremendous strides to break through the glass ceiling and make their mark.
In 2022, women held approximately 25% of cybersecurity jobs, up significantly from 2013 when they held only 10% – a stat expected to increase yearly. However, we still need to overcome obstacles to narrow the gender gap.
My journey into the cyber industry is atypical. I studied computer science and worked for many years in software engineering on mission-critical systems for the police, emergency services, etc. Naturally, there is a heavy focus on keeping networks and infrastructure well-protected and secure in that environment.
I became embedded in the standards around security, like ISO 27001. I found it interesting and decided to get certifications to learn more – so alongside developing, delivering, and supporting secure products, I gained certifications and experience in auditing, implementing, and managing ISO 27001 Information Security and other ISO certifications.
This progression wasn’t standard, but it was natural, and now as a woman leading a team of people, I often look around and think there aren’t enough women in this industry.
To me, it’s important for women in cybersecurity to be positive role models, help improve the ratio, and encourage other women to enter the industry and advance into leadership positions.
Here are four ways to bring more women into the industry and for those within to get recognized:
- Consider untraditional paths. Security covers many aspects, and there’s not one way in. A lot of what I do is engineering secure products used in secure environments, so I’ve focused on secure development practices – designing a product, thinking about security from the start, then building, testing, proving, and monitoring it when it’s out in the field.
I have progressed from software engineer to managing teams and departments of engineers, testers, architects, and product management teams. It gives me a unique view of security and allows me to oversee many different aspects of security.
As a result, it has allowed me to develop a unique set of skills and progress to senior roles in the industry.
- Keep educating yourself on standards and terminology. It’s crucial never to stop learning. It’s up to you to educate yourself to advance. I always pushed myself to learn more, mostly because I found it exciting but also because it would move my career forward and help organizations achieve their potential.
It’s essential to have an employer that supports you on this journey too. I am lucky to have had great support along my career journey and have my managers encourage me to develop my skills because, ultimately, it benefits them and the company.
But you must make the extra effort first. Also, take it one step further than what is required for your job – for example, I learned more about the industry domain, such as compliance requirements in the industry, etc., alongside honing my product management, engineering, and operational management skills.
- Break boundaries. Continual learning is critical but taking it one step further is how you get recognized. You must be driven, set your own goals, and then try to smash them.
For example, my skills, experience, and achievements were recognized in 2018 when I was awarded the global recognition of Chartered Engineer at the Institute of Engineering and Technology. There are only around 220,000 Chartered Engineers out of the entire engineering field in the UK. It’s a significant accomplishment and allows me to stand out even more.
It also allows others who are up and coming in the industry to see what is possible and to see a woman leading the way and breaking barriers.
- Be visible. It’s hard to inspire people to believe they can be leaders and work in cybersecurity when there are no role models.
I live by the mantra, “you can’t be what you can’t see.” It is crucial to help raise the profile of women who are achieving. It is one thing to improve yourself; it’s another to show people that you are doing it.
Other women must see you, and that means putting yourself out there. Get involved in job fairs, put yourself forward for boards, and get engaged with industry organizations.
It’s an excellent way for people to talk to, not only see people in these roles but also to talk to them and help to inspire people to consider roles in cybersecurity and how to get involved.
All these steps will improve the gender gap and push women to the forefront. The industry also needs to be along for the ride. Women in leadership roles in cybersecurity are essential to drive forward and encourage a diverse workforce. We need to keep pushing the numbers higher.
Right now, women hold 65% of my company’s senior roles, but many other places can’t say the same. When we have diverse teams, you get diverse thinking – new approaches and debates arise where you talk about the environment, the user, and other ethical considerations come into play.
Various backgrounds and scenarios make for building better cybersecurity products and better teams that build them.
It’s also vital for companies to show they are making improvements. It’s one thing to improve your numbers. It’s another thing to be committed to improving the numbers for the right reasons.
Companies can help boost diversity by supporting women from their teams to attend industry events and using images of women on their websites to showcase their work and speak to prospective talent. These are subtle but essential ways to show we’re furthering women’s careers in the industry.
The more women you see in the industry, the more inspirational and motivational it is to all.
About the author
Claire Clark, a leader, Chartered Engineer, brings to Titania nearly 20 years of experience in Software Engineering. Claire has managed and built high-performing teams that deliver portfolios of award-winning products. She’s worked with startups to multi-national organizations, establishing long-term client relationships.
Claire is also co-founder of Women 4.0 with Barclays Eaglelabs and C4DI (Centre for Digital Innovation), a platform to inspire, highlight successful women in industry and lead a positive path for the next generation.
She has received several industry awards, including Most Inspirational Business Leader (Business Works), runner up in Inspiring Contribution Award (Hull & Humber People In Business Awards), and was shortlisted for The Most Impactful Women In Technology 2020 (Analytics Insight). Claire graduated from the University of Hull with a BSc Hons Computer Science with Information Engineering.