While women now make up just over 24% of the global cybersecurity workforce, these hard-won percentage points mask a more complex and persistent story of inequality that continues to define the security industry worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, women comprised 24% of the global cybersecurity workforce, a slight increase from 22% in 2021
- In the US security industry, female participation in physical security roles stood at 18% in 2022
- Among cybersecurity professionals, only 19% of women hold technical roles like penetration testing in 2023
- In the US, Black professionals represent 7.4% of the cybersecurity workforce in 2023
- Hispanic/Latino individuals make up 8.9% of US infosec roles per ISC2 2023
- Asian professionals comprise 14.2% of the cybersecurity workforce in the US, 2023 data
- In the security industry, women hold only 10% of CISO positions in US firms 2023
- Black executives in cybersecurity companies 5.2% per ISC2 2023 leadership data
- In physical security firms, diverse leadership (non-white) 14% in US 2022 SIA
- In cybersecurity, gender pay gap is 18% lower for women in US 2023 ISC2
- Black cybersecurity professionals earn 12% less than white counterparts on average 2023
- In physical security, Hispanic guards paid 15% below average wages US 2022 SIA
- 85% of cybersecurity firms have DEI training programs in 2023 ISC2 survey
- Retention rate for diverse employees in US security industry 78% vs 85% overall 2022 SIA
- Employee satisfaction with inclusion in infosec 72% for women UK NCSC 2023
The security industry shows slow progress on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Equity and Compensation
- In cybersecurity, gender pay gap is 18% lower for women in US 2023 ISC2
- Black cybersecurity professionals earn 12% less than white counterparts on average 2023
- In physical security, Hispanic guards paid 15% below average wages US 2022 SIA
- UK infosec women salary gap 14% per NCSC 2023 pay equity study
- Canadian Indigenous security workers 20% pay disparity 2023
- Australia cybersecurity ethnic pay gap 10% for non-Anglo 2023 ACS
- Europe infosec gender equity index 72/100 ENISA 2023
- South Africa Black women in security earn 25% less 2022 ISACA
- Brazil physical security pay equity for Afro-Brazilians 82% of white 2023
- India scheduled castes cybersecurity pay gap 16% NASSCOM 2023
- US promotion rates for women in security 20% lower Deloitte 2023
- Singapore infosec pay equity score 85/100 for gender 2022 CSA
- Japan women security salary ratio 75% of men 2023 METI
- UAE diverse hires equity bonus programs cover 30% staff 2023 TRA
- New Zealand ethnic pay gap in infosec 11% Maori/Pacific 2023
- Mexico Indigenous security pay 22% disparity INEGI 2022
- Sweden gender pay equity in security 92% ratio MSB 2023
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.
Gender Representation
- In 2023, women comprised 24% of the global cybersecurity workforce, a slight increase from 22% in 2021
- In the US security industry, female participation in physical security roles stood at 18% in 2022
- Among cybersecurity professionals, only 19% of women hold technical roles like penetration testing in 2023
- In the UK private security sector, women make up 12% of security guards in 2022 data
- Globally, female CISOs in Fortune 500 companies from security firms represent 15% as of 2023
- In Australian cybersecurity firms, women account for 28% of the workforce in 2023 surveys
- US physical security management roles show 21% female occupancy in 2022 ASIS data
- In Europe, women in infosec analyst positions are 23% according to ENISA 2023 report
- Canadian security industry reports 17% women in frontline security operations in 2023
- In India, women constitute 14% of cybersecurity professionals per NASSCOM 2023
- Singapore security firms have 20% female employees in tech security roles, 2022 stats
- Brazil's physical security workforce includes 16% women as per ABSEG 2023
- In Japan, women in corporate security departments are 11% in 2023 METI survey
- South African cybersecurity sector has 25% women participation in 2022 IIASA report
- In the Middle East, UAE security industry women ratio is 22% per 2023 TRA report
- New Zealand infosec workforce 27% female in 2023 CERTNZ data
- Mexico private security guards: 13% women in 2022 INEGI stats
- In Germany, women in IT security roles are 26% per Bitkom 2023
- France cybersecurity firms report 21% female staff in 2023 ANSSI
- Italy security industry 19% women in operational roles, 2022 data
- Sweden infosec professionals: 29% women per 2023 MSB report
- In Spain, women in cybersecurity are 18% according to INCIBE 2023
- Netherlands security sector 24% female in 2022 CBS stats
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.
Inclusion Programs and Outcomes
- 85% of cybersecurity firms have DEI training programs in 2023 ISC2 survey
- Retention rate for diverse employees in US security industry 78% vs 85% overall 2022 SIA
- Employee satisfaction with inclusion in infosec 72% for women UK NCSC 2023
- 65% of Canadian security firms report improved retention post-DEI initiatives 2023
- Australia mentorship programs for women in cyber boosted inclusion scores to 80% 2023 ACS
- ENISA reports 70% European firms with ERGs for ethnic minorities 2023
- South Africa DEI programs increased Black retention by 15% 2022 ISACA
- Brazil security inclusion surveys show 68% diverse staff feel included 2023 ABSEG
- India cybersecurity firms 55% have women inclusion networks NASSCOM 2023
- US Deloitte: 82% security pros say DEI improves morale 2023
- Singapore 75% infosec staff report positive inclusion experiences 2022 CSA
- Japan security DEI awareness training reaches 60% workforce 2023 METI
- UAE retention of women in security up 20% after equity programs 2023 TRA
- New Zealand inclusion index for Maori in infosec 75% CERTNZ 2023
- Mexico security ERGs participation 40% among underrepresented 2022 INEGI
- Sweden 88% satisfaction with DEI in security MSB 2023 surveys
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.
Leadership Diversity
- In the security industry, women hold only 10% of CISO positions in US firms 2023
- Black executives in cybersecurity companies 5.2% per ISC2 2023 leadership data
- In physical security firms, diverse leadership (non-white) 14% in US 2022 SIA
- UK infosec boards: women 16% per NCSC 2023 executive survey
- Canadian security executives: Indigenous 1.5% in 2023 reports
- Australian C-suite cybersecurity: women 22% per 2023 ACS
- In Europe, female CTOs in security firms 12% ENISA 2023
- South Africa security leadership: Black women 8% per ISACA 2022
- Brazil ABSEG leadership diversity 18% non-white executives 2023
- India cybersecurity VPs: women 11% NASSCOM 2023
- US Fortune 500 security depts: Hispanic leaders 7% Deloitte 2023
- Singapore security firm boards 20% women 2022 CSA
- Japan security execs: women 9% METI 2023
- UAE infosec leadership: diverse ethnic 25% TRA 2023
- New Zealand CISO roles: women 24% CERTNZ 2023
- Mexico security managers: Indigenous 3% INEGI 2022
- Sweden security leadership: ethnic minorities 15% MSB 2023
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.
Racial and Ethnic Representation
- In the US, Black professionals represent 7.4% of the cybersecurity workforce in 2023
- Hispanic/Latino individuals make up 8.9% of US infosec roles per ISC2 2023
- Asian professionals comprise 14.2% of the cybersecurity workforce in the US, 2023 data
- In physical security, Black employees are 12% of US guards per SIA 2022
- Native American representation in cybersecurity is 1.2% in US 2023 ISC2
- UK cybersecurity workforce: Black/African/Caribbean 4.5% in 2023 NCSC
- In Canada, Indigenous peoples are 2.1% of infosec professionals, 2023 stats
- Australia cybersecurity: Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander 1.8% per 2023 ACS
- South Africa infosec: Black African 35% but underrepresented in senior roles, 2022
- In Brazil, Afro-Brazilian security professionals 22% in physical security 2023
- India cybersecurity workforce: Scheduled Castes 8% per NASSCOM 2023
- US Hispanic in leadership security roles 6.5% per Deloitte 2023
- In Europe, ethnic minorities in cybersecurity 11% per ENISA 2023
- Singapore infosec: Malay ethnic group 15% representation 2022
- Germany IT security: Non-white 9% per Bitkom 2023
- France cybersecurity ethnic diversity 13% underrepresented groups 2023 ANSSI
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.
Sources & References
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