Addressing workplace gender inequality continues to be a pressing issue for all organizations, but especially those in the cybersecurity space. Many cybersecurity organizations are taking bold actions to address gender gaps in wages, recruitment and promotions by implementing boardroom gender quotas and targeted recruitment processes. But for Difenda, gender diversity goes far beyond just the number of female employees and salary equilibrium.  

Cybersecurity is widely known to be a male-dominated industry, but we are changing that. For Difenda, addressing gender diversity and inclusion for women means yes, recruiting and training more women in the industry, but also providing opportunities to build connections, networks and mentorship relationships. We actively address both hard and soft skills while trying to create a more inclusive environment.  

In this post, we will walk you through where Difenda stands now regarding gender diversity industry standards, what opportunities we currently offer our female employees to build soft skills and what it’s really like to be a woman in cybersecurity at Difenda.  

Difenda is an Industry Leader in Terms of The Percentage of Women Employed in the Cybersecurity Space

Despite many challenges over the past few years, women’s representation has improved across all levels of the corporate pipeline and in almost every industry. But there are still persistent gaps: according to a report by (ISC)² women account for only 24% of the overall workforce in the cybersecurity industry. At Difenda we are actively working to close this gap.  

While we know there is still work to be done, we are proud to say that women make up 34% of Difenda’s workforce. But that’s not all:  

               – 20% of Difenda’s C3 Team, is women,  

               – 60% of the Revenue Operations Leadership Team is women, and  

               – 20% of the Service Operations Leadership Team is women.  

Why does this matter? Unilateral decision-making from the male perspective is not just a representation problem; it’s a security problem. Diverse perspectives are critical for cybersecurity companies that face an ever-changing variety of threats. Our workforce needs to look like and think like the diversity of threat actors. The wider variety of people and genders we have protecting networks, the more likely we will be successful at blocking them. 

At Difenda, we pride ourselves on hiring the most qualified candidates for every job. But it’s always a great feeling when that candidate is a woman because there are so many barriers to entry for women in the cybersecurity space.  

But bringing true gender diversity and inclusion doesn’t end once you bring women through the door. 

Difenda creates and promotes equitable opportunities

Difenda is constantly working to create an inclusive culture around the women in our space. We are investing in women by investing in their soft and hard skills. We do this by having programs and practices in place which support both our men and women. Such as: 

• Flexible work policy to help achieve work-life balance, 
• Investing in growth and development opportunities such as Microsoft vouchers and PluralSight licenses,  
• Female-led technology conferences are encouraged and sometimes covered by Difenda.  

Not only do these opportunities allow for greater training and professional development, but they also provide our team with opportunities to create their own network, make connections, and become a mentor – clearing a path for more women to enter cybersecurity.  

So, what is it really like to be a woman working at Difenda?  

Hear directly from our employees:  

“As a woman of colour, before joining Difenda I had always been the minority. Difenda is one of the workplaces where I feel like I am truly accepted for my abilities and not just a token. It feels great to work at Difenda which is a confluence of people from different walks of life. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive”. I am proud to be apart of a company that focuses on sharing our similarities and celebrating our differences.” – Priya Mocherla, Analyst, SecOps in Cyber Command Centre (C3)  

“When you are the only woman or one of the very few women in an organization it is obvious and can make you feel out of place. Having more women around enables us to identify with colleagues and creates a sense of belonging that takes work culture one step further. At Difenda, there is always a seat at the table regardless of your gender, age or experience.” – Gagan Bhathal, HR Administrator in Admin 

“Working at Difenda has been an incredible and empowering experience. Being a part of a team that is made up of so many women is incredible. Difenda empowers their women every day and makes each one of us feel important in our roles. This has allowed me to explore different career paths and find something I love to do.” – Dayana Leon-Araujo, Marketing Coordinator 

“Since my first day at Difenda, I’ve experienced an organization that fosters a sense of belonging and empowerment in our diverse workplace. From cultures and gender to multi-generation in the workplace. Though the diversity gap is still tilted in our industry, I’m proud to say Difenda exceeds the industry standard with the most inspiring female leaders across the organization, who support, encourage, and promote all to lead and break glass ceilings.” Cindy Lovely, Senior Channel Partner Manager 

“If Difenda didn’t continue to hire diversely, we wouldn’t be where we are today. The differences in gender, culture, age, and experience only allow us to grow as an organization because of the many perspectives and views. This is how we’re able to elevate so quickly. I’m extremely proud to be a part of Difenda and that we are passing the industry standard for gender diversity.” Valerie Frankland, Senior Regional Sales Representative  

“Cybersecurity is such a fascinating field to get into across so many domains. You can come into it from many different angles. Like in my case, with a background in marketing and communications, Difenda provided me with the right resources and a network of supportive mentors to excel. I love being a part of a company that provides a platform for the women in the industry that the younger generation and people outside of our industry can say to themselves, ‘if she can do that, I can also do that!’.  We hire talented people from all different industries. If you have a curiosity and passion to continue learning, you will love working in cybersecurity and being a part of the Difenda family!” Miranda McCurdy, Marketing Director 

We know our work is not done, but we are proud of the progress and community we have built this far and we hope to encourage women to take that first step into cybersecurity.  

Find opportunities at Difenda here.