Women hold only 24% of global cybersecurity roles. This article examines the persistent equity gaps and representation challenges across the industry, from compensation disparities to leadership diversity.
Key Takeaways
- In cybersecurity, gender pay gap is 18% lower for women in US 2023 ISC2
- In 2023, women comprised 24% of the global cybersecurity workforce, a slight increase from 22% in 2021
- 85% of cybersecurity firms have DEI training programs in 2023 ISC2 survey
- In the security industry, women hold only 10% of CISO positions in US firms 2023
- In the US, Black professionals represent 7.4% of the cybersecurity workforce in 2023
Diversity in security is improving yet remains limited, making inclusive hiring essential for stronger teams.
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01 · Category
Equity and Compensation17 stats
01
In cybersecurity, gender pay gap is 18% lower for women in US 2023 ISC2
02
Black cybersecurity professionals earn 12% less than white counterparts on average 2023
03
In physical security, Hispanic guards paid 15% below average wages US 2022 SIA
04
UK infosec women salary gap 14% per NCSC 2023 pay equity study
05
Canadian Indigenous security workers 20% pay disparity 2023
06
Australia cybersecurity ethnic pay gap 10% for non-Anglo 2023 ACS
07
Europe infosec gender equity index 72/100 ENISA 2023
08
South Africa Black women in security earn 25% less 2022 ISACA
09
Brazil physical security pay equity for Afro-Brazilians 82% of white 2023
10
India scheduled castes cybersecurity pay gap 16% NASSCOM 2023
11
US promotion rates for women in security 20% lower Deloitte 2023
12
Singapore infosec pay equity score 85/100 for gender 2022 CSA
13
Japan women security salary ratio 75% of men 2023 METI
14
UAE diverse hires equity bonus programs cover 30% staff 2023 TRA
15
New Zealand ethnic pay gap in infosec 11% Maori/Pacific 2023
16
Mexico Indigenous security pay 22% disparity INEGI 2022
17
Sweden gender pay equity in security 92% ratio MSB 2023
Interpretation
Equity and Compensation Interpretation
From São Paulo to Singapore, the global security industry's backbone is riddled with pay fractures, proving that while we've built walls to keep threats out, we've been far less diligent about the equity gaps within.
02 · Category
Gender Representation23 stats
01
In 2023, women comprised 24% of the global cybersecurity workforce, a slight increase from 22% in 2021
02
In the US security industry, female participation in physical security roles stood at 18% in 2022
03
Among cybersecurity professionals, only 19% of women hold technical roles like penetration testing in 2023
04
In the UK private security sector, women make up 12% of security guards in 2022 data
05
Globally, female CISOs in Fortune 500 companies from security firms represent 15% as of 2023
06
In Australian cybersecurity firms, women account for 28% of the workforce in 2023 surveys
07
US physical security management roles show 21% female occupancy in 2022 ASIS data
08
In Europe, women in infosec analyst positions are 23% according to ENISA 2023 report
09
Canadian security industry reports 17% women in frontline security operations in 2023
10
In India, women constitute 14% of cybersecurity professionals per NASSCOM 2023
11
Singapore security firms have 20% female employees in tech security roles, 2022 stats
12
Brazil's physical security workforce includes 16% women as per ABSEG 2023
13
In Japan, women in corporate security departments are 11% in 2023 METI survey
14
South African cybersecurity sector has 25% women participation in 2022 IIASA report
15
In the Middle East, UAE security industry women ratio is 22% per 2023 TRA report
16
New Zealand infosec workforce 27% female in 2023 CERTNZ data
17
Mexico private security guards: 13% women in 2022 INEGI stats
18
In Germany, women in IT security roles are 26% per Bitkom 2023
19
France cybersecurity firms report 21% female staff in 2023 ANSSI
20
Italy security industry 19% women in operational roles, 2022 data
21
Sweden infosec professionals: 29% women per 2023 MSB report
22
In Spain, women in cybersecurity are 18% according to INCIBE 2023
23
Netherlands security sector 24% female in 2022 CBS stats
Interpretation
Gender Representation Interpretation
While the security industry is slowly learning that diversity is its own best defense, these figures show it's still far too easy for talent to slip through the cracks.
03 · Category
Inclusion Programs and Outcomes16 stats
01
85% of cybersecurity firms have DEI training programs in 2023 ISC2 survey
02
Retention rate for diverse employees in US security industry 78% vs 85% overall 2022 SIA
03
Employee satisfaction with inclusion in infosec 72% for women UK NCSC 2023
04
65% of Canadian security firms report improved retention post-DEI initiatives 2023
05
Australia mentorship programs for women in cyber boosted inclusion scores to 80% 2023 ACS
06
ENISA reports 70% European firms with ERGs for ethnic minorities 2023
07
South Africa DEI programs increased Black retention by 15% 2022 ISACA
08
Brazil security inclusion surveys show 68% diverse staff feel included 2023 ABSEG
09
India cybersecurity firms 55% have women inclusion networks NASSCOM 2023
10
US Deloitte: 82% security pros say DEI improves morale 2023
11
Singapore 75% infosec staff report positive inclusion experiences 2022 CSA
12
Japan security DEI awareness training reaches 60% workforce 2023 METI
13
UAE retention of women in security up 20% after equity programs 2023 TRA
14
New Zealand inclusion index for Maori in infosec 75% CERTNZ 2023
15
Mexico security ERGs participation 40% among underrepresented 2022 INEGI
16
Sweden 88% satisfaction with DEI in security MSB 2023 surveys
Interpretation
Inclusion Programs and Outcomes Interpretation
The global security industry is discovering that while DEI initiatives are widespread, their quality is wildly inconsistent, creating a patchwork of progress where some teams thrive on genuine inclusion while others are still just checking a box.
More related reading
04 · Category
Leadership Diversity17 stats
01
In the security industry, women hold only 10% of CISO positions in US firms 2023
02
Black executives in cybersecurity companies 5.2% per ISC2 2023 leadership data
03
In physical security firms, diverse leadership (non-white) 14% in US 2022 SIA
04
UK infosec boards: women 16% per NCSC 2023 executive survey
05
Canadian security executives: Indigenous 1.5% in 2023 reports
06
Australian C-suite cybersecurity: women 22% per 2023 ACS
07
In Europe, female CTOs in security firms 12% ENISA 2023
08
South Africa security leadership: Black women 8% per ISACA 2022
09
Brazil ABSEG leadership diversity 18% non-white executives 2023
10
India cybersecurity VPs: women 11% NASSCOM 2023
11
US Fortune 500 security depts: Hispanic leaders 7% Deloitte 2023
12
Singapore security firm boards 20% women 2022 CSA
13
Japan security execs: women 9% METI 2023
14
UAE infosec leadership: diverse ethnic 25% TRA 2023
15
New Zealand CISO roles: women 24% CERTNZ 2023
16
Mexico security managers: Indigenous 3% INEGI 2022
17
Sweden security leadership: ethnic minorities 15% MSB 2023
Interpretation
Leadership Diversity Interpretation
The security industry's global leadership roster is so starkly homogeneous that it reads less like a directory of the world's best defenders and more like a repeatedly photocopied page from a very old, very exclusive club's handbook.
05 · Category
Racial and Ethnic Representation16 stats
01
In the US, Black professionals represent 7.4% of the cybersecurity workforce in 2023
02
Hispanic/Latino individuals make up 8.9% of US infosec roles per ISC2 2023
03
Asian professionals comprise 14.2% of the cybersecurity workforce in the US, 2023 data
04
In physical security, Black employees are 12% of US guards per SIA 2022
05
Native American representation in cybersecurity is 1.2% in US 2023 ISC2
06
UK cybersecurity workforce: Black/African/Caribbean 4.5% in 2023 NCSC
07
In Canada, Indigenous peoples are 2.1% of infosec professionals, 2023 stats
08
Australia cybersecurity: Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander 1.8% per 2023 ACS
09
South Africa infosec: Black African 35% but underrepresented in senior roles, 2022
10
In Brazil, Afro-Brazilian security professionals 22% in physical security 2023
11
India cybersecurity workforce: Scheduled Castes 8% per NASSCOM 2023
12
US Hispanic in leadership security roles 6.5% per Deloitte 2023
13
In Europe, ethnic minorities in cybersecurity 11% per ENISA 2023
14
Singapore infosec: Malay ethnic group 15% representation 2022
15
Germany IT security: Non-white 9% per Bitkom 2023
16
France cybersecurity ethnic diversity 13% underrepresented groups 2023 ANSSI
Interpretation
Racial and Ethnic Representation Interpretation
The global security industry's patchy and often performative approach to diversity suggests we're still trying to firewall talent out, not threat actors in.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Diana Reeves. (2026, February 13). Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Security Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-security-industry-statistics
MLA
Diana Reeves. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Security Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-security-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Diana Reeves. 2026. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Security Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-security-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
27 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level