Calls For Women Recruitment in Cybersecurity Intensified

Women working in cybersecurity presently represent fewer than a quarter of the overall workforce, despite the fact that the race to recruit female talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is progressing rapidly.

People are living in a time when technology is at its pinnacle, intertwining our lives with it. People are always connected in a network, whether it is their everyday lives that are connected online, their social lives where people are connected through social media, or their everyday phone bills or electricity bills which they pay through online transactions. 

While people are constantly linked to this network, sharing and exploring, do you believe your data is secure? Is it actually safe?

As technology advances, hackers change as well, and sadly, we are not keeping up with the pace in our fight against cybercrime. As a result, cybersecurity specialists are desperately needed all around the world to prevent a cybersecurity compromise.

A career in cybersecurity offers a plethora of work opportunities. The excitingly demanding and interesting relevant work system that a cybersecurity job gives appears to be the best aspect that cyber pros find enticing, despite the high wages and exceptional advantages. 

The demand for cybersecurity workers is growing at a rate that is more than three times that of other IT occupations and 12 times that of other general jobs. As a cybersecurity professional, you’ll be in charge of protecting highly sensitive data as well as helping to protect the internet.

CSU leads 2022 Women in Cybersecurity Conference

The Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland State University (CSU), one of MSM Unify’s partner institutions, welcomed more than 1,500 guests for the ninth annual Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) 2022 Conference from Mar. 17-19. 

The conference was intended to assist enterprises in recruiting, retaining, and advancing women in cybersecurity while also building a network of involvement, encouragement, and support for students and women in the profession.

This year’s conference is being hosted locally by a consortium coordinated by CSU/IoT Collaborative, which includes Greater Cleveland Partnership/RITE and Northeast Ohio Cyber Consortium (NEOCC).

WiCyS’ professional and student guests will be educated about Cleveland, its tech culture, and job possibilities by more than 25 governmental, commercial, and charity organizations.

The worldwide information security workforce will require 1.5 million new employees by 2020, according to estimates. Professionals in the field have expressed concern about falling short of this target.

In 2022, there will still be a scarcity of cybersecurity-focused information technology (IT) personnel. Based on estimates, many businesses are at “moderate or extreme danger” of cyberattacks as a result.

Although women make up the majority of students at American colleges and institutions, they only make up about 20-25% of STEM students, despite the growing demand for qualified professionals.

Cleveland State Cyber Bootcamp

Participants progress from novice to cybersecurity professional in 12 weeks full-time or 26 weeks part-time through the Cleveland State Cyber Bootcamp powered by Full stack. The part-time program is developed primarily for beginners. There is no requirement for prior experience to apply, get accepted, or succeed.

In both Ohio and the rest of the country, there is a huge opportunity. According to cyberseek.org, there are over 10,000 unfilled cybersecurity positions in Ohio alone, with a very limited supply of cybersecurity skills.

From resumé assistance to preparing students for successful physical and technical interviews, the Cleveland State Cyber Bootcamp provides students with career coaching every step of the way.

With excellent student ratings, years of experience in education, and great graduation outcomes, Full stack Academy is one of the nation’s longest-running and most successful coding bootcamps. It is now bringing its hands-on learning approach to CSU’s inaugural cyber bootcamp, which aims to train professionals to combat the global menace of cybercrime.

Graduates of the Cleveland State Cyber Bootcamp will be eligible for full-time cybersecurity careers with starting salaries that are +29% higher than the Cleveland average.

Foundations (computing and networking basics, Linux, introduction to automation), Security Essentials (practical networking, bash scripting, Python for security), Security Analyst Training (NIST cybersecurity framework, tools, techniques, procedures for network and application protection), and Flight (offensive and defensive cybersecurity skills) (projects, advanced certifications preparation, career coaching, and guidance).

Why women should consider a career in cybersecurity

In the sector of cybersecurity, there is a significant labor shortage. On a global basis, it is estimated that there are over one million unfilled cybersecurity jobs—a number that is expected to rise if history is any guide. Cyber security job postings increased by 74% between 2010 and 2014.

So, how do we address the cyber security industry’s manpower shortage? Women.

Women make up only 11% of the global cyber security workforce at the moment. That implies the cybersecurity business is missing out on nearly half of the population’s skill pool at a time when cybercrime is one of the most dangerous dangers we’ve ever faced. Here are some of the reasons why women should consider a career in cybersecurity:

1. Find more job opportunities. Because cybersecurity is such a rapidly evolving field, there is a considerable need for experienced individuals from employers. Cybersecurity job listings increased by 74% between 2007 and 2013, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the industry is expected to climb 18% from 2014 to 2024, substantially faster than the national average. To put it another way, there are a lot of cybersecurity jobs out there, and demand doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
2. Earn higher pay A career that demands information technology (IT) skills pays 50% more than the average private-sector employment in the United States. In 2016, the median annual wage for a cybersecurity position was $92,600, compared to a $37,040 median annual wage for all workers. Cybersecurity salaries are expensive, due to a severe shortage of cybersecurity expertise and the skills required to operate in the industry. According to CNBC, a cybersecurity expert with a bachelor’s degree earns an average annual salary of $116,000 per year. 
3. Be a part of a game-changing field .The internet has an impact on practically every facet of daily life. Cybersecurity is critical in today’s digital age for assuring online safety as well as the safety of the critical services that sustain our daily life, such as power, transportation, and financial institutions. As a cybersecurity specialist, you’ll be tasked with keeping key infrastructure secure on a daily basis, and you’ll be faced with new and exciting challenges on a regular basis.
4. Diversify the workforce, break stereo types. The lack of diversity in the cybersecurity talent pool, as well as in their own cyber security departments, has been noticed by both corporations and government agencies. Employing a diverse staff is good not only from a public relations aspect, but it also fosters creativity. Also, women are underrepresented in cybersecurity, and many do not consider it a viable career option due to a lack of female role models in the business, as well as stereotyping and salary disparities. However, in order to transform the sector and remove barriers for women, more women must enter the area, strive to dispel preconceptions, demand equal pay, and serve as role models for those women interested in entering the field.
5. Make real impacts. Today’s wars are waged online, and as a result, both women and men with the technical skills and awareness needed to combat persistent and destructive cyberattacks are in high demand. Cybersecurity is a fast-paced industry that attracts people from all walks of life. This means that within the vast field of cyber security, you can distinguish yourself apart by combining your previous work experience, such as in information technology, administration, or accounting, with new cybersecurity abilities.

You might be wondering what cybersecurity entails, and whether it’s the ideal fit for the next step in your career, given the field’s expanding popularity.

Simply reading the headlines reveals the need for additional cybersecurity professionals: data breaches and hacking are becoming more common, and most firms are understanding the need to protect themselves from such attacks.

There’s never been a better moment to pursue a career in cybersecurity than now, thanks to the increased demand for these services.

MSM Unify is your one-stop source platform connecting students, higher education institutions, and agents around the world. Sign up now to get the latest updates and information on international education.