Empowering Women in Cybersecurity: A New Pathway Towards Inclusion

The landscape of technology is rapidly evolving, presenting unprecedented opportunities for innovation. Yet, a significant challenge remains: the stark gender disparity in the IT sector, particularly in burgeoning fields like cybersecurity. To address this imbalance, Kaspersky, in partnership with Smart Africa and Africaines in Tech, has launched the “Future You in Tech” career orientation test—a pioneering initiative designed to guide young women towards fulfilling careers in cybersecurity.

The Gender Gap in Tech

The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2024 reveals a sobering statistic: women comprise only 28.2% of the global STEM workforce. As technology plays an increasingly integral role in shaping our future, the underrepresentation of women in these fields becomes even more concerning. This gender gap is perpetuated by longstanding societal stereotypes and unequal workplace opportunities, which often deter young women from pursuing careers in tech.

Recognizing the urgent need for change, Kaspersky and its partners have developed the Future You in Tech initiative. This science-backed career orientation test aims not only to illuminate potential career paths for young women but also to dismantle the barriers that contribute to this gender gap. By fostering interest and providing clarity, the initiative seeks to inspire the next generation of female cybersecurity professionals.

Discovering Potential Through Personalized Guidance

At the heart of this initiative lies an innovative orientation test designed to resonate with young women’s individual interests, skills, and personality traits. Participants embark on a journey through curated scenarios, which illuminate their natural problem-solving styles and strengths. Upon completion, the test provides insight into the two cybersecurity roles that align best with their profiles from a selection of six exciting options.

These roles include:

• Threat Intelligence: Analyzing cybercriminal activities and anticipating their future moves.
• Security Operations (SOC): Monitoring systems for threats and responding rapidly to incidents.
• Malware Analysis: Reverse-engineering malicious code to create effective detection rules.
• Network Security: Safeguarding IT infrastructure while conducting penetration tests to identify vulnerabilities.
• Information Security Research: Investigating vulnerabilities and developing new security standards.
• Security Assessment: Auditing systems to recognize and mitigate potential risks.

This tailored approach enables participants to connect their passions and strengths with specific career paths, laying the groundwork for future success in a dynamic and impactful industry.

Guidance and Support from Industry Experts

Upon completion of the test, young women receive detailed descriptions of their suggested roles, along with invaluable insights from Kaspersky’s female professionals actively working in those areas. This mentorship aspect is bolstered by recommended readings and practical activities curated in collaboration with Smart Africa, Africaines in Tech, and Kaspersky Academy.

Evgeniya Russkikh, Kaspersky’s Head of Academic Affairs, emphasizes the empowerment that this initiative offers: “We recommend young women to take this orientation test—even if you never considered a career in cybersecurity. While the field necessitates technical skills, it also requires curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, and resilience—qualities many young women already possess. The test provides a transparent view of viable career paths, encouraging participants to visualize a future in cybersecurity.”

A Commitment to Change

The launch of the Future You in Tech initiative marks a significant step in Kaspersky’s long-standing commitment to enhancing female representation in technology. As of early 2023, women made up 25% of the company’s global tech workforce—a 6.9 percentage point increase over the last four years. Complementing this achievement, Kaspersky’s Empower Women digital project raises awareness surrounding gender-related challenges, shares insights from experts, and offers actionable advice aimed at fostering more equitable and inclusive work environments.

Through initiatives like Future You in Tech, Kaspersky and its partners are not only taking strides towards diminishing the gender gap in technology but also ushering in a new era of diversity and inclusion. By equipping young women with the tools to envision their future in cybersecurity, they are quite literally building a safer digital society—one empowered woman at a time.