Record number of schoolgirls make digital waves but women still under-represented in the cyber security sector
.jpg)
- Women make up just 11% of the global cybersecurity workforce
- Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, David Lidington MP, calls for more to be done to encourage women into the cyber security industry
- As well as reaching out to the cyber-pros of tomorrow, NCSC launches a new online training tool to meet the security demands of today
Cyber-savvy female students who took part in an online competition founded by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) were praised today in a speech by David Lidington. Speaking at the ‘Women in Security Network’ conference, the Minister for the Cabinet Office also warned that more needs to be done to open up opportunities in cybersecurity for women.
Nearly 12,000 girls aged 12 - 13 from across the UK took part in the competition in 2019, which was launched by the NCSC as part of the CyberFirst initiative. The competition breaks down gender barriers by encouraging girls to engage with cybersecurity before they make their GCSE choices, with over 24,000 female students have taken part since the competition was launched in 2016. Promising youngsters from across the UK have been attending cybersecurity courses throughout the year, with some securing bursaries and apprenticeships through the CyberFirst programme.
However, with women accounting for just 7% of the cybersecurity workforce across Europe, David Lidington called for more to be done to encourage women into the sector:
"There remains a severe lack of diversity in the cyber industry. Cybersecurity is among the most important aspects of our national defence today, so we need talent from every part of society enriching our workforces."
"Women have been pioneers in security and technology, and we want to see this reflected in the cybersecurity sector too."
As well as reaching out to the cyber professionals of tomorrow, the NCSC has developed an online learning tool to give workers of today the skills they need to protect themselves from potential cyber attacks.
Aimed at SMEs, charities and the voluntary sector, the brand new, targeted 30-minute programme ‘Stay Safe Online: Top Tips for Staff’ educates users about how attacks happen, where vulnerabilities lie and how to defend themselves. During his speech, David Lidington said the new training package will empower any user - not just cyber experts - to play their part in boosting their organisations’ cyber resilience.
Commenting on the new software, Clare Gardiner, NCSC Director of Engagement, said:
"We all have a part to play in making the UK the safest place to live and work online. Employees are vital in helping keep their organisations’ networks safe and need to be aware of how to protect themselves."
"Our recent Cyber Survey discovered that 25% of organisations don’t see cybersecurity as a top priority and we hope this tool will empower staff to start conversations around best practice. "
"Once people are more cyber-literate as a whole, we hope to see this having a positive impact on the diversity of people that are interested in working in the sector."
source govuk
Industry: Cyber Security

Latest Jobs
-
- Cloud Architect- German Speaker
- Hungary
- Upto €48000 per year + bonus + benefits
-
As a Senior Pre-Sales Solutions Architect, you will play a pivotal role in driving our sales success by translating complex technical solutions into compelling proposals that resonate with our clients. You will collaborate closely with our sales teams to understand customer needs, design tailored solutions, and negotiate successful deals. Responsibilities: Solution Design: Develop comprehensive technical solutions that align with customer business objectives and industry best practices. Proposal Development: Create compelling proposals, including requirements gathering questionnaires, presentation materials, and Statements of Work (SOWs). Customer Engagement: Build strong relationships with clients, understanding their technical, business, and commercial requirements. Collaboration: Work closely with sales teams, delivery teams, and third-party partners to ensure successful project execution. Pricing Strategy: Define and deliver pricing strategies that align with customer needs and company objectives. Requirements: Experience in technical pre-sales or sales support roles. Proven track record in designing and delivering successful customer solutions. Strong technical foundation in areas such as VMware, Azure, AWS, cloud computing, and data center technologies. Excellent understanding of sales principles, account management, and negotiation techniques. Ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly and concisely. Experience working in international teams and supporting clients across multiple regions. Fluency in German and English is essential. Benefits: Competitive salary and benefits package Opportunity to work on challenging and rewarding projects Collaborative and supportive work environment Potential for career growth and advancement Please note that this role is focused on supporting German clients, but will also involve global client support as needed.
-
- Director Cyber Security Consulting Medical / Biotech / Biopharma. United Kingdom
- United Kingdom
- Generous salary, uncapped bonus, travel and usual benefits.
-
CH8431 Director Cyber Security Consulting Medical / Biotech / Biopharma. United Kingdom Looking to make Security Partner within 2-3 years? Do you have current experience selling / delivering cyber consulting & advisory services into Medical / Biotech / Biopharma? If so, we would like to speak with you. Apply today for a discreet conversation. This is a UK based opportunity. Current Cyber security consulting experience is essential, as is a network into the Pharmaceutical / Healthcare industry. Package- Generous salary, uncapped bonus, travel and usual benefits. 07884666351 | chris.holt@dclsearch.com
-
- Director Cyber Security Consulting Pharmaceutical / Healthcare. United Kingdom
- United Kingdom
- Generous salary, uncapped bonus, travel and usual benefits.
-
CH8430 Director Cyber Security Consulting Pharmaceutical / Healthcare. United Kingdom Looking to make Security Partner within 2-3 years? Do you have current experience selling / delivering cyber consulting & advisory services into Pharmaceutical / Healthcare? If so, we would like to speak with you. Apply today for a discreet conversation. This is a UK based opportunity. Current Cyber security consulting experience is essential, as is a network into the Pharmaceutical / Healthcare industry. Package- Generous salary, uncapped bonus, travel and usual benefits. 07884666351 | chris.holt@dclsearch.com
-
- Privileged Access Management (PAM) Specialist
- Germany
- upto €700 per day
-
We are looking for a Privileged Access Management (PAM) specialist to help us redesign our customer's administration environment and implement a PAM tool. The project is divided into two phases: a rough concept phase and a detailed concept phase. We need someone with deep knowledge of ITIL V4, product provisioning, automation, and standardization, as well as good knowledge of the cloud environment, Enterprise Vault, requirements documentation, and analysis. We also need someone with strong communication and team skills Ideally you will have experience with CyberArk, we do require someone who is fluent in German for this contract