WiCyS State of Inclusion Assessment

In our study to measure inclusion, more than 1,000 cybersecurity professionals used a confidential platform to share experiences that caused them to feel excluded. For each experience, male and female participants selected one or more categories (e.g., compensation, career, work-life balance), and one or more sources (e.g., managers, peers, leaders and HR). More than 20 different organizations were included in the study.

Key Findings Show:

• Women were excluded at a rate 2 times higher than men.
• The 2nd highest area of exclusion for women in cybersecurity was identified as the lack of career growth and opportunities. (Please note that Aleria research has not found this in any other industry othan than cybersecurity).
• Women in cybersecurity experience a “glass ceiling” around 6-10 years within their careers. 
• Women are 5 times more likely to cite their direct managers and peers as sources of that exclusion.
• Employees who identified with a (dis)ability had higher rates of exclusion than those who identified with the majority.
• WiCyS Strategic Partners had 49% fewer experiences of exclusion and reported 64% higher levels of job satisfaction. 

Highlights of Inclusion in the News

• Dark Reading: Cybersecurity Is Becoming More Diverse … Except by Gender
• IT Brew: Hacking the glass ceiling: Why women are crucial to cybersecurity teams
• CSO: Boys’ club mentality still a barrier to women’s success in cybersecurity careers
• Techopedia: Women in Cybersecurity: Experts’ Testimonies Reveal Shocking State of Exclusion
• Infosecurity Mag: Women Experience Exclusion Twice as Often as Men in Cybersecurity
• IT Pro: Women in Cybersecurity Face Barriers to Hiring, Advancement
• Forbes: Greater Inclusion For Women Boosts The Bottom Line–And Supports DEI