To highlight International Women’s Day, we sat down with Meghana, an experienced SOC Analyst at CommSec, to discuss women in cybersecurity and this year’s theme of “Inspire Inclusion.”
Q: Meghana, what does “Inspire Inclusion” mean to you in the context of cyber security?
Meghana: To me, it means equal opportunities for everyone in the field. Unfortunately, women often face challenges in getting promotions, participating in special projects, and finding graduate opportunities.
Q: How can we make cyber security more inclusive?
Meghana: We can start by raising awareness through online discussions, workshops, and webinars. Mentorship programs are also crucial in educating and inspiring women to pursue their careers in cybersecurity. Additionally, creating a roadmap for career development can help them achieve their goals.
Q: What are your thoughts on creating a more accepting environment for women and girls in tech and cyber security?
Meghana: Informal meetings and having safe spaces where women can open up and share their perspectives are essential. Having more women in leadership positions can also help pave the way for new female employees by helping them build greater resilience.
Q: Who inspires you to be inclusive in the field?
Meghana: My faculty during my studies were incredibly inspiring. They helped me choose my career path after college and offered invaluable advice on work-life balance. Seeing a 50/50 split of male and female faculty at my college inspired me in a way that their unwavering dedication to breaking barriers and fostering a more diverse and inclusive environment has deeply resonated with me. They have demonstrated the importance of empowering women in cyber security and creating opportunities for all individuals to thrive regardless of gender. Their examples inspires me to actively work towards building a more inclusive future for women in cyber security.
Q: What advice would you give to young women?
Meghana: Remember, every field is now open to everyone. Stereotypes are being broken down daily, and women are taking on diverse roles in various sectors such as bus drivers and policing. Breaking these stereotypes gives young females more confidence to pursue their dreams.
Q: How can we maintain year-round awareness about women in the workplace?
Meghana: Online platforms like LinkedIn groups, forums, and women-in-tech meetups are excellent for networking and sharing ideas. Furthermore, media highlighting success stories and achievements of women in the field can inspire others to follow in their paths.
Q: How do you envision the future of women in cyber security in the next 10 years?
Meghana: Cyber threats, like malicious emails and phone calls, are growing every year. This is why cybersecurity is extremely important, not just for companies, but for everyone. Imagine getting a call saying your Amazon account is on hold and you need to pay right away. This kind of scam is becoming more common. To fight these growing threats in daily life and make the internet safer for everyone, we need more skilled professionals in cyber security and especially, the presence of more women in cyber security field will lead to a greater diversity of perspectives which will enhance problem-solving, decision making and overall effectiveness within the field. If more women and men work together in this field, we can create a stronger defence against online dangers, keeping everyone safe, at work and at home. In the next 10 years, I envision significant progress for women with increased representation, empowerment and opportunities paving the way for a more diverse and resilient cyber workforce.
More information on International Women’s Day can be found here on the EU website.