Is Cybersecurity a Welcoming Career? 72 Percent of Female Cyber Practitioners Say Yes - ASIS Homepage

Photo by iStock PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CAREER PLANNING AND ADVANCEMENT MENTORING AND COACHING AUGMENTED & VIRTUAL REALITY, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGEN Is Cybersecurity a Welcoming Career? 72 Percent of Female Cyber Practitioners Say Yes By Claire Meyer 9 March 2026 Today in Security The cybersecurity industry has worked hard in the past decade or more to make cybersecurity feel like a viable, engaging career opportunity for all demographics—especially women—to help address the longstanding talent gap in the field. Now, it appears that the work is paying off. As part of its 2025 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, cybersecurity professional organization ISC2 found that 72 percent of women who participated in the study described cybersecurity as a welcoming career path for women, and average job satisfaction among women increased from 67 percent in 2024 to 71 percent. Of the 16,029 respondents to the 2025 survey, 16 percent were women (approximately 2,500 people).  It’s not all sunny, though. Women were more likely than men to report that their organizations experienced security layoffs in the last 12 months (28 percent vs. 23 percent). The future view is also a little dimmer—78 percent of women reported optimism in the long-term strength of the cybersecurity profession, compared to 83 percent of men. Additionally, 82 percent of women said there will always be a need for cybersecurity professionals, compared to 88 percent of men. Current market conditions may be affecting some of that outlook; 33 percent of women in cybersecurity said they were considering switching careers because of the market, compared to 27 percent of men. There has been little change in the perceived number of women working in cybersecurity teams in the last two years, though. Just 21 percent of the 2025 ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study participants perceive that their cybersecurity teams have 10 percent women or fewer, although 14 percent said their cybersecurity teams contain no women at all. But 22 percent said their cybersecurity teams contain between 31 and 50 percent women, with a further 2 percent saying that their teams have gender parity or are majority women. The survey asked all participants to rank barriers hindering women from staying and advancing in the cybersecurity field. Areas like work–life balance and pay inequity ranked highly, but 42 percent of male respondents said they did not know or didn’t observe any significant barriers for women’s advancement. Challenges to Women Remaining and Advancing in Cybersecurity Roles Women Men Work–life balance or caregiving demands 45 percent 29 percent Limited leadership opportunities 35 percent 19 percent Pay or promotion inequity 34 percent 19 percent Lack of visible role models 28 percent 22 percent Uninclusive or toxic culture 26 percent 15 percent Lack of mentorship or sponsorship 25 percent 15 percent I don’t know/No significant barriers observed 17 percent 42 percent Women have an opportunity to seize new roles with the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) in organizations, ISC2 reported. More than 40 percent of study participants said AI proficiency was the most pressing talent need right now, and the second-highest technical skill valued by hiring managers. Women were more likely than men to report having “significant” knowledge of AI and machine learning (27 percent vs. 17 percent). Both men and women in cybersecurity are investing in skill development and professional growth, although they are looking at different pathways. What Skills Are Cybersecurity Professionals Fostering? Women Men Building my cybersecurity skills and knowledge 47 percent 59 percent Learning more about AI/building AI-related skills 44 percent 49 percent Shifting from tactical work to more strategic contributions 33 percent 38 percent Obtaining new certifications unrelated to AI 31 percent 33 percent Learning about possible vulnerabilities and exploits in AI solutions 29 percent 36 percent Considering changing careers to prepare for an AI-driven future 27 percent 17 percent Positioning myself as a leading adopter of AI within my organization 26 percent 26 percent Identifying and proposing new ways to make my organization more profitable or efficient using AI 23 percent 26 percent Identifying and proposing new ways to better defend my organization using AI 23 percent 24 percent Obtaining a new degree 22 percent 15 percent Learning how to audit the security or integrity of AI systems 21 percent 21 percent Obtaining new AI-related certifications 16 percent 18 percent “Cybersecurity is a broad, and fast-moving sector. Continuous education is key,” ISC2 said. “While organizations need to invest in training and education as part of a wider focus on investing in people, proactive learning and development is key.” In addition, ISC2 recommends that cybersecurity professionals leverage mentorship opportunities and plug into formal and informal communities. “As participants have highlighted, cybersecurity can feel isolating, so support and representation matters. Access to assigned or structured formal mentorship was noted by 40 percent of women participants, and sponsorship from leadership by 32 percent. Many senior women in cybersecurity are eager to mentor—but you need to reach out first,” ISC2 added. Nearly half of the women participants in ISC2’s study reporting having access to informal mentorship or peer groups, such as through ISC2, Women in CyberSecurity, or other security organizations or associations.   MOST POPULAR ARTICLES 1. 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