The importance of women in cybersecurity policy & governance

You wake up, tap your phone, and watch the news cycle spin: another ransomware attack, another AI-driven scam, another privacy lawsuit. We usually point to brilliant engineers or clever hackers, but the real frontline is quieter—and mostly invisible. It’s cybersecurity policy (the rulebook) and governance (the playbook) that decide who can touch your data, how companies handle a breach, and whether tomorrow’s breakthrough tech is safe or shady.

Together, policy and governance decide whether:

• A hospital’s life-support devices get real-time security patches or wait for the next budget cycle.
  
• A child’s location trail on a social platform is wiped after 30 days or sold to an ad network.
  
• A facial-recognition algorithm is retrained because it misidentifies women of colour.

Well-crafted frameworks protect national infrastructure, global data flows, and individual rights. Weak or outdated ones, by contrast, create perfect storm conditions for cybercrime, surveillance abuse, and runaway AI. That’s why the digital era needs not just brilliant engineers, but policy architects and diverse voices shaping every clause.

Right now, too few women sit at that rule-writing table. Fixing the imbalance isn’t performative. Diverse leadership leads to sharper threat forecasts, stronger privacy laws, and, most importantly, digital systems people actually trust. As the 2025 International Women’s Day theme urges, it’s time to Accelerate Action where security and policy collide.

The gender gap in cybersecurity leadership

Despite the high stakes, women remain significantly underrepresented in cybersecurity, especially in leadership and governance roles.

Recent data shows that women make up just 24% of the global cybersecurity workforce, and the percentage is even lower when it comes to executive-level and policy-making positions. This underrepresentation is not due to a lack of talent, but a reflection of persistent structural barriers, such as:

• Systemic bias: Hiring practices and organizational cultures that unconsciously favour men.
  
• Mentorship without sponsorship: Women receive career advice but lack senior advocates who open doors to boards and task forces. Moving beyond mentorship explains why advocacy matters more than coaching.
  
• Underrepresentation in decision-making: Too often, the rooms where cybersecurity rules are drafted are missing women’s voices, and that silence carries real-world consequences. As we highlight in our article Women in Cybersecurity, homogeneous teams overlook hidden vulnerabilities, hard-code bias into AI tools, and pass regulations that safeguard the majority while leaving many users exposed. Cyber threats don’t care who you are, but the solutions will, unless every perspective is at the table. When diversity is absent, blind spots multiply and our digital defences grow weaker, not stronger.

Why women’s voices are essential in policy & governance

Diversity in leadership is not just a moral imperative—it’s a strategic advantage.

1. Ethical, inclusive policy design

Cybersecurity policy extends to surveillance oversight, data-sharing limits, AI ethics, and even how we verify our online identities. Women, particularly those from under-represented communities, bring first-hand insight into how these rules affect different groups. Without that input, well-meaning frameworks can quietly hard-wire inequality.

Picture a facial-recognition system that misidentifies people with darker skin, or an AI resume screener that filters out working mothers. Those failures happen when policy is drafted in an echo chamber. As we explore in Women Strengthening Digital Security Through Diverse Thinking, diverse voices surface hidden biases early, preventing technology from embedding injustice into its code.

2. Greater focus on accessibility

Cybersecurity isn’t one-size-fits-all. Governance that includes women is more likely to address the needs of disabled individuals, non-native language speakers, and those in low-connectivity areas. Inclusive digital protections benefit everyone, not just the majority.

3. Intersectional risk awareness

Women experience online threats in uniquely personal ways—from cyberstalking and harassment to identity theft and doxxing. This lived experience gives them a deeper understanding of the nuances in digital risk and how to protect vulnerable communities through stronger policy safeguards.

4. Building public trust and compliance

Trust is foundational to good governance. If people don’t see cybersecurity protections as fair and inclusive, they tune out security prompts or abandon digital services altogether. Women leaders narrow that trust gap by combining transparent policy with real-world empathy, turning box-ticking controls into meaningful cybersecurity and compliance practices that align with everyday user needs.

5. Long-term thinking

Women in governance roles often emphasize sustainability over reactivity. Instead of chasing the latest threat with short-term patches, they help craft systems and strategies that evolve over time, building resilience into the digital fabric.

6. Stronger collaboration

Effective cybersecurity governance demands collaboration between departments, sectors, and countries. Women often excel at relationship-building, consensus, and stakeholder engagement, making them invaluable in high-stakes, cross-functional policy environments.

The impact? Better privacy legislation. More equitable AI frameworks. Stronger consumer protections. In short, more innovative, safer, and more human-centred cybersecurity systems.

Trailblazers leading the way in cybersecurity policy

Thankfully, more women are stepping into high-impact cybersecurity policy roles and paving the way for others to follow.

Jen Easterly

As Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in the U.S., Easterly has led efforts to improve national cyber resilience while emphasizing diversity and equity in digital protection strategies. Her work has set new standards for how governments respond to cyber threats while promoting inclusive governance.

Teresa Scassa

A leading academic voice in Canadian data law and privacy regulation, Scassa’s research has helped shape national frameworks around AI ethics, open data, and consumer protections. Her advocacy bridges the gap between legal scholarship and practical policymaking.

Camille Stewart Gloster

As Deputy National Cyber Director for the White House, Stewart Gloster is on the front lines of shaping America’s cyber future. She’s also the founder of #ShareTheMicInCyber, a movement designed to amplify Black voices in cybersecurity—a powerful reminder that representation matters at every level.

Others like Kemba Walden, Dr. Natalia Stakhanova, and Melanie Anderson continue to lead with vision, purpose, and a commitment to shaping safer, fairer digital systems.

How to get involved in cybersecurity policy

If you're a woman looking to make an impact in this space—whether you're coming from tech, law, communications, or even healthcare—there’s a path for you.

Education and certification

Programs like the Cybersecurity Bootcamp at Lighthouse Labs offer immersive, hands-on training to help you transition into cybersecurity roles. From understanding risk management and digital law to preparing for certifications like CISSP and CompTIA Security+, these programs help you build the skills you need.

Courses in public policy, data ethics, and cyber law are also excellent entry points, especially when paired with a solid technical foundation.

Entry-level opportunities

Explore:

• Internships with government or nonprofit digital policy teams
  
• Policy fellowships in tech ethics, privacy, or digital law
  
• Think tanks and advocacy organizations working on AI and cybersecurity reform
  
• Corporate governance roles in compliance or digital strategy

Success stories like Bernadette Chan, a Lighthouse Labs alum who transitioned into cybersecurity after a career in data risk management, show that diverse backgrounds are not just welcome—they’re essential.

Wondering if a pivot is realistic? What’s Next for Women in Tech outlines transitions from healthcare, education, or project management straight into policy seats.

Multidisciplinary advantage

Cybersecurity policy thrives on diverse expertise. Your background in ethics, human rights, policy, communications, or law isn’t just relevant—it’s in demand. Bring your unique strengths to the table, and you’ll help build policies that are more complete and reflective of real-world complexity.

Initiatives empowering women

Thankfully, you don’t have to walk this path alone. There are thriving communities and programs ready to help:

• Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS): One of the largest global organizations supporting women in cybersecurity, WiCyS offers mentorship, training, scholarships, and conferences.
  
• UN Women in Cyber: A UN-backed initiative working to advance gender equality in cybersecurity policy across international institutions.
  
• SANS CyberTalent: A talent development program offering certifications, networking, and career placement for aspiring cyber professionals.

Lighthouse Labs is also helping women break into the field through its impact initiatives, which include scholarships, community-led mentorship, and hands-on training programs specifically for women entering the tech industry.

These communities are more than professional networks—they’re sources of support, empowerment, and shared purpose.

Building a safer digital future together

As technology accelerates, so does the complexity of the systems we rely on every day. The only way to create fair, secure, and ethical digital environments is to ensure that the people shaping them reflect the world they serve.

Women are not just contributors, they’re leaders. Their voices in cybersecurity policy and governance aren’t a “nice to have.” They are essential to building trust, protecting rights, and ensuring long-term digital resilience.

Whether you're just starting your journey or looking to pivot into a more impactful role, there’s a place for you in cybersecurity policy. The future needs ethical leaders. It needs bold thinkers. It needs you.

Ready to explore your next step? Start with a program like our Cybersecurity Bootcamp, connect with mentorship networks, and discover just how much of a difference your voice can make.