The Growing Need for Female Cybersecurity Professionals

There is a growing need for female cybersecurity professionals to protect an organization from hackers, ransomware, malware, and other information risks.

According to Cybersecurity Ventures, the estimated annual damage of cyberattacks is forecasted to be $6T by 2022. According to MarketWatch, the global AI market size in 2018 was $21.5B (USD) and is expected to reach $150B by the end of 2023. According to the International Data Corporation, forecasted global spending on AI cybersecurity hardware, software and services is anticipated to be $151.2B. MarketsandMarkets and Technovio state that the Canadian current value of AI cybersecurity is $5B and is expected to grow to $35B by 2025 (a CAGR of 31%). The main drivers of this spending are as a result of the dramatic increase in the sophistication of hackers and the easily available, low-priced illegal tools, the increase in the rate, speed of attacks and the proliferation of hostile state sponsored attacks invoking cyberwarfare, identity and data theft. These statistics are increasing exponentially due to the impacts of COVID19. According to Deloitte, 50% of professional occupations are held by women. 25% of computer occupations are held by women, only 11% of the information security workforce are women, and even fewer are entrepreneurs. In Alberta, the economic impact of the oil price collapse combined with the devastating impact of COVID has negatively impacted an already marginalized community. More women have lost their jobs, closed their businesses and remain unemployed or underemployed as compared to their male counterparts. NATO has identified this marginalized community and is developing an international training strategy. Canada has identified AI and cybersecurity as a national strategic priority and Alberta has identified this community in its Economic Recovery Plan, Innovation Strategy and Investment and Growth Strategy. 

Female Cybersecurity professionals are needed in the following real life positions/applications:

• Associate Security Analyst

• Information Security Specialist 

• Network Security Analyst

• Third Party Risk Analyst

• Junior Penetration Tester

• IT Technician

• Systems Administrator

Our 16 week online program has been designed to make learning interesting and relevant for female adult learners. Our system incorporates theory and emphasizes results. We begin with real-world cybersecurity case studies and brainstorm hypothetical solutions from a business perspective.

We prepare our students for careers in Cybersecurity and offer the support and guidance that they need in this typically male dominated field.