Riyadh: In line with the Women Empowerment in Cybersecurity initiative, launched by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, which aims to address the challenges of low female participation and the growing shortage of female cybersecurity professionals, this year’s edition of the Global Cybersecurity Forum witnessed a high-level meeting.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the event brought together key decision-makers from international organizations, including UN Women, the International Telecommunication Union, and other relevant stakeholders. Attendees discussed the need for practical strategies to bridge the global workforce gap in cybersecurity, emphasizing the importance of harnessing women’s potential in building a resilient cyberspace, raising cybersecurity awareness among female students, and developing their skills through specialized mentorship and guidance programs.
Moreover, the Global Cybersecurity Forum Foundation, in collaboration with Duke University, released a report offering new evidence-based insights into the challenges and opportunities surrounding women’s entry and advancement in the cybersecurity workforce. The report highlighted that the global cybersecurity workforce gap remains a pressing issue, posing significant risks to economic development and growth opportunities worldwide.
The report revealed that data from the 2025 field study, collected across Latin America from current female cybersecurity professionals and university students interested in the field, confirms that women continue to face the same challenges identified in the 2022 Global Cybersecurity Forum report. Nearly 64% of survey participants agreed that women remain significantly underrepresented in the cybersecurity sector.
The student survey indicated that limited early engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects, coupled with a lack of guidance and mentorship, continues to hinder women’s participation in the cybersecurity field.
