Across March, ISC2 will be recognizing the contribution of women in cybersecurity as part of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day.
Building on our spotlight on women working in and pursuing a career in cybersecurity in 2025, ISC2 is once again using the month of March to share a program of content showcasing the contributions and views of women in the cybersecurity field.
Over the month you will read articles from ISC2 Members, Associates and Candidates working in cybersecurity or pursuing their first certification as seek to enter the workforce for the first time. They will share their career and workplace experiences, provide valuable advice for they peers and celebrate the successes, opportunities and progress they, their colleagues and their organizations have made with regard to building a more sustainable path for women in cybersecurity careers. They will also highlight where there is still work to do, where lessons have not yet been learned and where opportunities exist for organizations to change polices, strategies and workplace cultures.
A Cultural Shift for Women in Cyber Roles
Ahead of this month, we have asked women to share their views in response to several questions about career paths, advancement opportunities, skills and experiences working in cybersecurity.
Daksha Bhasker, CISSP, shared her views on how representation of women in cybersecurity has grown. “There is an active presence and inclusion of women in the cybersecurity industry, and I am grateful for this shift. Women can now attend major cybersecurity conference with thousands of global attendees and not be disproportionately outnumbered,” she said.
Bhasker added that, from her perspective, there are now more instances of women supporting and mentoring their peers. “It is my observation that a woman standing in the cybersecurity workforce has experienced her share of struggles and has battle scars to speak of. In many cases, women who have succeeded in the industry are extraordinarily supportive of others rising behind them and following their footsteps. It is inspiring to have women as role models which was non-existent in my early career years”.
Lea Witt, CISSP, offered this advice for women considering changing careers or starting out in cybersecurity: “Everyone starts from zero, we’re all just learning step by step and it is okay to fail. If you’re curious and willing to grow, you absolutely belong in this field. Also, there are more niches and specialized fields that might be interesting to you, other than the stereotypical view one often pictures when thinking of cybersecurity”.
Witt added that “I was originally drawn to cybersecurity because I love digging into complex problems and figuring out how things work beneath the surface. What keeps me in the field is the constant change, every day might bring new challenges that combine research, investigation, and problem‑solving”.
We want to continue to hear from you on these topics, along with your advice for other women considering a career in cybersecurity. We encourage you to join the conversation on LinkedIn and via the ISC2Up2Date Newsletter.
Global 50x50 Women’s Summit
Taking place on March 18, 2026, the Global 50x50 Women’s Summit is a virtual event which will bring together women and allies from every corner of the cybersecurity ecosystem to explore how inclusive leadership, intentional sponsorship, and meaningful mentorship open doors to opportunity and reshape the talent pipeline.
Supported by ISC2 and The Centre for Cyber Safety and Education, this event builds on the work of the Global 50x50 Initiative towards a future where women make up 50% of the cyber workforce by 2050. The Summit will highlight the actions needed to create a more resilient and sustainable cybersecurity workforce for all.
Sessions will explore areas including skills development, cyber leadership, carer mapping, allyship, career resilience and community involvement, to drive gender parity in cybersecurity teams and roles.
By attending this live event, you are eligible to receive 3.5 CPE credits. Additional credits can also be earned with on-demand viewing.
Find out more and register now.
