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The social media poll, which received 14,706 responses, was conducted by
Infosecurity Europe – Europe’s number one information security event - and was the
latest in a series of polls ahead of the conference. Sixty one per cent of
respondents acknowledged that women have less opportunity than men when vying for
senior roles in cyber and information security, which is disappointing, and shows
the clear lack of diversity that still exists in the industry.

Europe is one of the worst offending regions in the world when it comes to women in
cyber security, with them making up just seven per cent of the industry workforce,
and one of the biggest gender pay gaps in the world according to the Global
Information Security Workforce
Study. During
a period where cybercrime poses one of our biggest threats, it’s difficult to fathom
why the industry continues to sell itself short by missing out on a huge proportion
of prospective female talent.

Worse still, sixty three per cent of those polled by Infosecurity Europe think
there’s not enough guidance and support available for women wanting a career in
cyber and information security. The future for women in security depends on the IT
industry’s ability to inspire women and encourage careers in cyber security. The
issue is further exasperated, with over half (56 per cent) of those surveyed noting
that there is a lack of female role models in the cyber and information security
industry.

Infosecurity Europe 2019 seeks to address these issues and will be hosting the third
annual Women in
Cybersecurity
networking event on Wednesday 5th June. The industry will meet to celebrate the
achievements of females in cybersecurity, debate the challenges around diversity and
discuss career opportunities for women in the industry. The event includes an
inspirational keynote presentation by Dr Sue Black entitled ‘If I can do it, so can
you’, a panel discussion, Q&A and networking.

Dr Sue Black, commented on the poll saying: "I’m not surprised by the results of
this survey, the majority believe the same as me: that we really need to do
something about the lack of guidance and support for women wanting a career in cyber
and information security. There are many awesome women working in these areas, but
we haven’t heard about them enough. Stories about the trailblazing women that have
done incredible things in technology like Dame Stephanie Shirley, UK technology
pioneer, and the women recently portrayed in the film Hidden Figures Dorothy Vaughan
and Mary Jackson, have not been heard until now. Yet the history of computing is
built on the work of women like them.

I have long championed women in tech since setting up the UK’s first online network
for women in tech BCSWomen back in 1998 and now as Professor of Computer Science and
Technology Evangelist at Durham University I’m working hard to get more women into
technology, to inspire and encourage millions of women to work in tech. Technology
is the future. "

Victoria Windsor, Group Content Manager at Infosecurity
Group, says: “We
are thrilled to have such an inspirational female speaker at the upcoming event. The
cyber and information security sector must continue to encourage women to study and
consider careers in the industry and, furthermore, it should be focused on retaining
the female demographic and inspiring female influencers, motivating women to drive
for senior roles in their field.”

Infosecurity Europe, now in its 24th year, takes place at Olympia, Hammersmith,
London, from 4-6th June 2019. It attracts over 19,500 unique information security
professionals attending from every segment of the industry, including more than 400
exhibitors showcasing their products and services, industry analysts, worldwide
press and policy experts, and over 200 industry speakers are lined up to take part
in the free-to-attend conference, seminar and workshop programme.