Being a Woman in Cybersecurity PR
somIt’s no secret that the cyber security industry has historically been a bit of a boy’s club. The number of women in cybersecurity is steadily increasing – from 20 percent in 2019 to 25 percent by 2021. However, there is still a significant imbalance that we must address to solve the current cyber skills shortage.
At Code Red Communications we are lucky to work alongside a variety of knowledgeable spokeswomen, and we make sure their voices are heard in the media just as much as their male counterparts. Just this week we have already secured coverage across the cybersecurity media landscape in Infosecurity Magazine, Business Reporter, Channel Comms Today and more. Representation in the media like this is vital to encourage women to move into the sector.
On the other end of the scale, the world of marketing and comms has traditionally been more female-dominated, and at Code Red Communications we have no lack of strong female role models. From our founder Dianne, who started the company from home while raising a young baby, to our two account directors Kim and Kirsten who have spent over ten years helping the company achieve its full potential, our team is full of creative, hard-working women.
We are always looking to expand our team and ensure an inclusive working environment. The key is to respect the need for flexibility and to encourage different ways of working.
For example, taking childcare and household responsibilities into account can make a difference. Recent studies show that women are still far more likely to have these tasks fall on their shoulders. It is really important that rigid thoughts about how to work do not exclude excellent candidates. Flexible working options create happier employees, which is good for team morale and increases their productivity, according to some research.
International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to consider how to improve your workplace for women in cybersecurity and beyond. Check out the International Women’s Day website for advice on how to do so.
