More than a commemorative date, September 1 is International Women in Cyber Day (IWCD), encouraging gender equity in cybersecurity by showcasing progress, overcoming obstacles to progress and creating opportunities for women across the field.

International Women in Cyber Day 2025

Founded in 2018 by Lisa Kearney, CEO of the Women CyberSecurity Society, IWCD shines a spotlight on women’s achievements while addressing the ongoing gender disparity in the industry. IWCD data suggests that women currently comprise as low as 12% of the global cybersecurity workforce, while 22% of respondents to ISC2’s latest Cybersecurity Workforce Study were women.

This day not only honors trailblazers and innovators who have shaped cybersecurity but also seeks to inspire the next generation to pursue careers in this critical sector. With events and initiatives taking place worldwide today, IWCD encourages awareness, advocacy and action to create a more inclusive and equitable digital future.

ISC2 is proud to honor the contributions that women have made to the cybersecurity field and remains committed to expanding opportunities for women to lead and thrive in the field.

Be Part of ISC2’s 2025 Global Women’s Summit

ISC2 Women's Summit 2025Join your peers from across the globe on Thursday, September 18, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET for a dynamic, half-day virtual gathering dedicated to uplifting women and allies in cybersecurity. Through bold conversations, inclusive dialogue, and actionable strategies, we’ll explore how diverse perspectives are critical to securing our digital future.

You will hear from Rachel Wilson, Head of Wealth Management Data Security & Infrastructure Risk at Morgan Stanley, who will kick off the Summit with a session on balancing innovation and risk in a volatile cybersecurity landscape.

The Summit includes interactive sessions on managing bias, leadership, mentorship, career development, entrepreneurship and more. Along with these sessions will be a panel featuring women CISOs, sharing their experiences of working towards this level in their careers.

Register now

Additional Resources for International Women in Cyber Day

Research

We recently examined the responses from women who participated in the most recent ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study as part of a month-long look at women working in cybersecurity roles. Our goal was to understand and share the views, experiences, challenges and concerns of women working in an industry that remains mostly male.

Despite the gender disparity in the cybersecurity sector, women working in cybersecurity roles exhibit a high degree of workplace happiness and job satisfaction. They have consistently retained a higher degree of job satisfaction compared to men over the past three years.

We looked at the routes into the profession that women respondents have taken and how a significant number have leveraged education, professional development, self-initiated experience opportunities and apprenticeships to press on with their careers in greater numbers.

Respondents highlight the impact of AI, in particular how AI has impacted women respondents working in cybersecurity, the growth of AI as part of the recruiting process and concerns over data-driven bias.

Across the board, cybersecurity jobs continue to offer high levels of average pay at all positions, from entry-level to the C-suite. However, respondents reported a substantial average discrepancy in salaries between women and men.

Testimonials

ISC2 members share their experiences as women in cybersecurity roles, along with advice for advancing in cybersecurity as a career path.

Webinar

In addition to the ISC2 Global Women’s Summit, our most recent Women in Cybersecurity webinar is available for on-demand replay. ISC2 members can earn CPE credits for watching. 

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