As the panel itself shows, there ar

As the panel itself shows, there are multiple career paths into the cybersecurity sector for women, so the question is what is hindering our numbers and contributions?

All the panelists found common ground on the challenges facing women. Even with technical experience and skill, the importance of speaking confidently was underscored as a way of ensuring different, opinions were heard. The ability to ask questions and insist on answers was also seen as essential, especially in more technical areas.

The panel discussion and the event’s group exercises and side-bar conversations, confirmed my belief that cybersecurity can and must benefit from diverse contributions from diverse people. By setting clear professional as well as personal priorities, women in particular can and should build strong careers in this space, not least because they (we) are well suited to foster collaboration in increasingly diverse cybersecurity teams. It is, therefore, up to businesses, from leaders like Microsoft to fresh start-ups, to encourage women to engage in the cybersecurity field, and it is up to women to take on the opportunities that cybersecurity OFFERS