GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Cyber Security Industry Statistics

Diversity enhances cybersecurity performance, yet underrepresentation persists in industry.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Less than 25% of cybersecurity training programs include modules on cultural competency and diversity

Statistic 2

Diversity and inclusivity training programs in cybersecurity have increased team cohesion scores by 25%, according to recent studies

Statistic 3

Only 30% of cybersecurity companies report having specific DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) goals

Statistic 4

60% of cybersecurity training programs lack explicit inclusivity components, negatively affecting diversity efforts

Statistic 5

Companies that implement mandatory bias training see a 22% reduction in reported incidents of discrimination

Statistic 6

Only 13% of cybersecurity research funding is allocated to projects focusing on diversity and inclusion

Statistic 7

62% of cybersecurity organizations report that diversity initiatives have positively impacted their innovation capacity

Statistic 8

Initiatives to improve diversity in cybersecurity led to a 50% increase in minority applications over the past three years

Statistic 9

Educational outreach programs targeting underrepresented groups increased cybersecurity awareness by 45% among participants

Statistic 10

48% of cybersecurity educational programs now include modules on DEI, up from 20% five years ago, indicating rising awareness

Statistic 11

Only 9% of cybersecurity executives are women

Statistic 12

53% of women working in cybersecurity report feeling underrepresented

Statistic 13

In a survey, 60% of women in cybersecurity feel their contributions are undervalued

Statistic 14

The gender pay gap in cybersecurity is approximately 8-12%, with women earning less on average than men

Statistic 15

Women in cybersecurity are 1.7 times more likely to leave their jobs within the first two years compared to men

Statistic 16

Women with cybersecurity certifications earn on average 15% less than men with similar credentials

Statistic 17

44% of women in cybersecurity report experiencing workplace harassment or microaggressions

Statistic 18

58% of women in cybersecurity believe that mentorship could significantly advance their careers

Statistic 19

Women in cybersecurity tend to have 10% fewer years of experience on average compared to men, indicating potential barriers to retention

Statistic 20

82% of cybersecurity professionals believe diversity improves security capability

Statistic 21

78% of cybersecurity professionals believe that more inclusive hiring practices would improve team performance

Statistic 22

67% of industry leaders agree that addressing bias is essential for effective cybersecurity strategy

Statistic 23

50% of cybersecurity organizations believe that true diversity is necessary to handle advanced cyber threats

Statistic 24

72% of organizations state that inclusive workplace culture directly correlates with increased cybersecurity resilience

Statistic 25

66% of cybersecurity professionals agree that improving diversity will lead to better problem-solving

Statistic 26

70% of cybersecurity team leaders agree that better diversity training improves team performance

Statistic 27

65% of companies recognize that diversity and inclusion are core to their cybersecurity strategy

Statistic 28

75% of cybersecurity professionals agree that diverse teams are better at identifying and mitigating cyber threats

Statistic 29

Women hold approximately 25% of cybersecurity roles globally

Statistic 30

Less than 20% of cybersecurity professionals are from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds

Statistic 31

Organizations with high diversity in cybersecurity teams are 20% more likely to demonstrate better security outcomes

Statistic 32

45% of minority cybersecurity professionals report experiencing discrimination at work

Statistic 33

The average age of cybersecurity professionals is 30-35 years, but only 8% are over 50

Statistic 34

Only 10% of cybersecurity leadership roles are held by individuals from minority backgrounds

Statistic 35

40% of cybersecurity firms have no formal diversity and inclusion policies in place

Statistic 36

Only 15% of cybersecurity internships and apprenticeships are allocated to minorities or women

Statistic 37

70% of cybersecurity companies acknowledge diversity as a critical factor for innovation

Statistic 38

Initiatives aimed at increasing diversity in cybersecurity have resulted in a 30% increase in minority hiring over the past three years

Statistic 39

A survey found that 65% of minority cybersecurity professionals feel underrepresented within their teams

Statistic 40

The percentage of women executives in cybersecurity is expected to rise by 50% over the next five years

Statistic 41

Only 22% of cybersecurity research projects include diverse perspectives or teams

Statistic 42

55% of cybersecurity job postings specify diversity as a preferred qualification

Statistic 43

Cybersecurity firms with diverse boards are 40% more likely to have above-average financial performance

Statistic 44

There is a global shortage of 3.4 million cybersecurity professionals, with underrepresented groups facing a larger barrier to entry

Statistic 45

38% of cybersecurity professionals from minority backgrounds cite a lack of mentorship opportunities as a barrier to career advancement

Statistic 46

Eggplant surveys indicate that only 12% of cybersecurity conferences actively promote diversity and inclusion among speakers

Statistic 47

The number of certifications held by minority cybersecurity professionals is 30% lower than their counterparts, impacting career growth

Statistic 48

The representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in cybersecurity is estimated at around 7%, with many citing workplace discrimination as a barrier

Statistic 49

80% of industry analysts stress that a diverse talent pipeline is vital for future cybersecurity innovation

Statistic 50

47% of cybersecurity employers are actively looking to hire more women to improve diversity

Statistic 51

Minority representation in cybersecurity is higher in North America (around 19%) compared to Europe (around 12%)

Statistic 52

68% of cybersecurity students expressed interest in diversity-focused training modules

Statistic 53

40% of current cybersecurity professionals say they would recommend the field to underrepresented youth if more inclusive opportunities were available

Statistic 54

The percentage of women in cybersecurity leadership is projected to increase by 60% by 2028

Statistic 55

Only 15% of cybersecurity conference speakers are women, despite women making up 20-25% of the workforce

Statistic 56

55% of cybersecurity job applicants from minority groups report facing biases during interviews

Statistic 57

80% of minority cybersecurity professionals have considered leaving their roles due to lack of inclusivity

Statistic 58

Cybersecurity firms led by diverse executive teams experience 35% higher client satisfaction ratings

Statistic 59

32% of hiring managers in cybersecurity acknowledge unconscious biases influence their recruitment decisions

Statistic 60

Only 19% of cybersecurity internship positions are offered to minority students, impacting diversity pipelines

Statistic 61

The number of Black professionals in cybersecurity increased by only 4% over the last five years, indicating slow growth

Statistic 62

The percentage of LGBTQ+ professionals in cybersecurity is under 10%, with many citing workplace discrimination as a barrier

Statistic 63

40% of cybersecurity job descriptions lack explicit language promoting diversity and inclusivity, reducing applicant pool diversity

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Key Highlights

Women hold approximately 25% of cybersecurity roles globally
82% of cybersecurity professionals believe diversity improves security capability
Less than 20% of cybersecurity professionals are from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds
Only 9% of cybersecurity executives are women
Organizations with high diversity in cybersecurity teams are 20% more likely to demonstrate better security outcomes
45% of minority cybersecurity professionals report experiencing discrimination at work
53% of women working in cybersecurity report feeling underrepresented
The average age of cybersecurity professionals is 30-35 years, but only 8% are over 50
Only 10% of cybersecurity leadership roles are held by individuals from minority backgrounds
40% of cybersecurity firms have no formal diversity and inclusion policies in place
In a survey, 60% of women in cybersecurity feel their contributions are undervalued
Only 15% of cybersecurity internships and apprenticeships are allocated to minorities or women
The gender pay gap in cybersecurity is approximately 8-12%, with women earning less on average than men

Despite women holding just 25% of cybersecurity roles globally, industry experts agree that increasing diversity and inclusion is vital for strengthening security capabilities, innovation, and resilience in the face of growing cyber threats.

Diversity Initiatives and Programs

Less than 25% of cybersecurity training programs include modules on cultural competency and diversity
Diversity and inclusivity training programs in cybersecurity have increased team cohesion scores by 25%, according to recent studies
Only 30% of cybersecurity companies report having specific DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) goals
60% of cybersecurity training programs lack explicit inclusivity components, negatively affecting diversity efforts
Companies that implement mandatory bias training see a 22% reduction in reported incidents of discrimination
Only 13% of cybersecurity research funding is allocated to projects focusing on diversity and inclusion
62% of cybersecurity organizations report that diversity initiatives have positively impacted their innovation capacity
Initiatives to improve diversity in cybersecurity led to a 50% increase in minority applications over the past three years

Diversity Initiatives and Programs Interpretation

Despite clear evidence that diversity and inclusion boost innovation and cohesion in cybersecurity, less than a third of companies have explicit DEI goals, highlighting a vast room for progress in cultivating a truly representative industry.

Educational and Skill Development in Cybersecurity

Educational outreach programs targeting underrepresented groups increased cybersecurity awareness by 45% among participants
48% of cybersecurity educational programs now include modules on DEI, up from 20% five years ago, indicating rising awareness

Educational and Skill Development in Cybersecurity Interpretation

As cybersecurity education embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion, a 25 percentage point increase in DEI modules signals a promising shift towards a more representative and aware industry—proof that broadened outreach isn't just ethical, but essential for robust digital defenses.

Gender Disparities and Challenges

Only 9% of cybersecurity executives are women
53% of women working in cybersecurity report feeling underrepresented
In a survey, 60% of women in cybersecurity feel their contributions are undervalued
The gender pay gap in cybersecurity is approximately 8-12%, with women earning less on average than men
Women in cybersecurity are 1.7 times more likely to leave their jobs within the first two years compared to men
Women with cybersecurity certifications earn on average 15% less than men with similar credentials
44% of women in cybersecurity report experiencing workplace harassment or microaggressions
58% of women in cybersecurity believe that mentorship could significantly advance their careers
Women in cybersecurity tend to have 10% fewer years of experience on average compared to men, indicating potential barriers to retention

Gender Disparities and Challenges Interpretation

Despite women constituting nearly half of the global workforce, their mere 9% representation among cybersecurity executives, coupled with pervasive underrepresentation, undervaluation, and workplace challenges, underscores that the industry's security breach may be less about external threats and more about internal blindness to gender disparities.

Perceptions and Beliefs in Cybersecurity

82% of cybersecurity professionals believe diversity improves security capability
78% of cybersecurity professionals believe that more inclusive hiring practices would improve team performance
67% of industry leaders agree that addressing bias is essential for effective cybersecurity strategy
50% of cybersecurity organizations believe that true diversity is necessary to handle advanced cyber threats
72% of organizations state that inclusive workplace culture directly correlates with increased cybersecurity resilience
66% of cybersecurity professionals agree that improving diversity will lead to better problem-solving
70% of cybersecurity team leaders agree that better diversity training improves team performance
65% of companies recognize that diversity and inclusion are core to their cybersecurity strategy
75% of cybersecurity professionals agree that diverse teams are better at identifying and mitigating cyber threats

Perceptions and Beliefs in Cybersecurity Interpretation

In a field where strength lies in numbers, the cybersecurity industry’s growing consensus—82% believe diversity enhances security, 75% say it aids threat detection, and over 70% see inclusive culture as vital—proves that when it comes to defending digital frontiers, a diverse team isn’t just ethical, but essential for staying one step ahead of cyber adversaries.

Workforce Diversity and Representation

Women hold approximately 25% of cybersecurity roles globally
Less than 20% of cybersecurity professionals are from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds
Organizations with high diversity in cybersecurity teams are 20% more likely to demonstrate better security outcomes
45% of minority cybersecurity professionals report experiencing discrimination at work
The average age of cybersecurity professionals is 30-35 years, but only 8% are over 50
Only 10% of cybersecurity leadership roles are held by individuals from minority backgrounds
40% of cybersecurity firms have no formal diversity and inclusion policies in place
Only 15% of cybersecurity internships and apprenticeships are allocated to minorities or women
70% of cybersecurity companies acknowledge diversity as a critical factor for innovation
Initiatives aimed at increasing diversity in cybersecurity have resulted in a 30% increase in minority hiring over the past three years
A survey found that 65% of minority cybersecurity professionals feel underrepresented within their teams
The percentage of women executives in cybersecurity is expected to rise by 50% over the next five years
Only 22% of cybersecurity research projects include diverse perspectives or teams
55% of cybersecurity job postings specify diversity as a preferred qualification
Cybersecurity firms with diverse boards are 40% more likely to have above-average financial performance
There is a global shortage of 3.4 million cybersecurity professionals, with underrepresented groups facing a larger barrier to entry
38% of cybersecurity professionals from minority backgrounds cite a lack of mentorship opportunities as a barrier to career advancement
Eggplant surveys indicate that only 12% of cybersecurity conferences actively promote diversity and inclusion among speakers
The number of certifications held by minority cybersecurity professionals is 30% lower than their counterparts, impacting career growth
The representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in cybersecurity is estimated at around 7%, with many citing workplace discrimination as a barrier
80% of industry analysts stress that a diverse talent pipeline is vital for future cybersecurity innovation
47% of cybersecurity employers are actively looking to hire more women to improve diversity
Minority representation in cybersecurity is higher in North America (around 19%) compared to Europe (around 12%)
68% of cybersecurity students expressed interest in diversity-focused training modules
40% of current cybersecurity professionals say they would recommend the field to underrepresented youth if more inclusive opportunities were available
The percentage of women in cybersecurity leadership is projected to increase by 60% by 2028
Only 15% of cybersecurity conference speakers are women, despite women making up 20-25% of the workforce
55% of cybersecurity job applicants from minority groups report facing biases during interviews
80% of minority cybersecurity professionals have considered leaving their roles due to lack of inclusivity
Cybersecurity firms led by diverse executive teams experience 35% higher client satisfaction ratings
32% of hiring managers in cybersecurity acknowledge unconscious biases influence their recruitment decisions
Only 19% of cybersecurity internship positions are offered to minority students, impacting diversity pipelines
The number of Black professionals in cybersecurity increased by only 4% over the last five years, indicating slow growth
The percentage of LGBTQ+ professionals in cybersecurity is under 10%, with many citing workplace discrimination as a barrier
40% of cybersecurity job descriptions lack explicit language promoting diversity and inclusivity, reducing applicant pool diversity

Workforce Diversity and Representation Interpretation

Despite recognizing that diversity fuels innovative security solutions—evidenced by a 20% performance boost—women and minorities still face significant barriers, including underrepresentation, workplace discrimination, and a lack of formal policies, highlighting a stark contrast between the industry's acknowledgment of inclusivity’s importance and the slow pace of meaningful change.