Gender diversity gap poses risk to cybersecurity industry

The cybersecurity industry faces significant risks due to a persistent gender diversity gap, particularly as artificial intelligence expands the landscape of potential threat actors. In Australia, women represent only 17 per cent of the cybersecurity workforce, with many leaving the industry after approximately four years due to cultural, societal, and organizational barriers, according to a study by RMIT University commissioned by the Australian Women Security Network.

Similar trends are observed in New Zealand, where a government study found women comprise 34 per cent of ICT professionals and technicians, significantly lower than their 62 per cent representation in the overall public service. In the broader IT sector, recruitment firm Tribe Recruit notes women hold only 23 per cent of roles.

Industry experts suggest that increasing female representation across various levels of seniority is essential for building industry resilience. Maria Armstrong of Huntress emphasized that diversity in thinking and lived experience is not merely a metric but a necessity for developing more robust security approaches.