Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Cybersecurity

It’s estimated that only 4% of cybersecurity workers self-identify as Hispanic, 9% as Black, and 24% as women. The national reckoning on racial justice that began in mid-2020, prompted by the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other Black Americans at the hands of police, has further clarified that current DEI efforts, however well-meaning, have not addressed the overwhelming white-ness and male-ness of the cybersecurity field.

Aspen Digital and the Aspen Tech Policy Hub have made recommendations for diversifying the cybersecurity industry across two categories: immediate actions and those that require further investment. The effort resulted from workshops convening an intergenerational and cross-disciplinary group of cybersecurity professionals to develop a concrete, impact-oriented set of commitments focused on improving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in cybersecurity. The recommendations were developed with support from the Hewlett Foundation and the consultation of cybersecurity expert Camille Stewart.