Women in CyberSecurity

Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) was founded in 2013 by Ambareen Siraj{{Cite web |date=2020-11-05 |title=Tennessee Tech's Ambareen Siraj Honored for Diversity |url=http://tntribune.com/tennessee-techs-ambareen-siraj-honored-for-diversity/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=The Tennessee Tribune |language=en-US}} from Tennessee Tech University through funding from the National Science Foundation.{{Cite web |title=NSF Award Search: Award#1303441 - Collaborative Proposal: Capacity Building in Cybersecurity: Broadening Participation of Women In Cybersecurity through Women in Cybersecurity Conference & Professional Developm |url=https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1303441&HistoricalAwards=false |access-date=2021-02-10 |website=www.nsf.gov}} In less than ten years, the organization has grown into a leading alliance between academia, government, and industry. WiCyS is working to improve the pipeline in the cybersecurity workforce and it does so through numerous initiatives supported by Strategic Partners and more than 500 volunteers.

Women in CyberSecurity's executive director is Lynn Dohm.{{Cite web |title=MOJO Maker for Womxn in Tech: The Power of Belonging with WiCyS Executive Director Lynn Dohm (S2E19) on Apple Podcasts |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/the-power-of-belonging-with-wicys-executive/id1515675243?i=1000523272645 |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Development |first=PodBean |title=Bringing Diverse Voices Into Cybersecurity with Lynn Dohm, Executive Director, Women in Cybersecurity (WiCys) {{!}} Breaking Changes |url=https://breakingchanges.podbean.com/e/bringing-diverse-voices-into-cybersecurity-with-lynn-dohm-executive-director-women-in-cybersecurity-wicys/ |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=breakingchanges.podbean.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=BoC #38: WiCys Executive Director, Lynn Dohm |url=https://www.businessofcyber.com/listen/boc-38-wicys-executive-director-lynn-dohm |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=Business of Cyber |language=en-US}}

Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) is recognized for the annual cybersecurity conference supporting women in computer sciences.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-15|title=The Best Women Cybersecurity Conferences 2021 - 2022|url=https://infosec-conferences.com/best-women-in-cybersecurity-events/|access-date=2021-02-10|website=Cybersecurity Conferences 2020 – 2021|language=en-US}} The first conference took place in Nashville, Tennessee. in 2014. The conference was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation and provided funding for 100 attendees but had approximately 350 attendees due to an extension that was sponsored by 28 organizations.

This flagship conference{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=Kirsten |date=2022-03-08 |title=#IWD2022: Women in Cybersecurity: Why We Need to Inspire the Younger Generation |url=https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/opinions/iwd2022-women-cybersecurity/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Infosecurity Magazine}} is the largest cybersecurity conference with equal representation from industry professionals, academia, and students.{{Cite web |title=COSE on LinkedIn: The 9th annual Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) Conference is happening |url=https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cose_the-9th-annual-women-in-cybersecurity-wicys-activity-6907385265141481472-3aEb |access-date=2022-03-12 |website=www.linkedin.com |language=en}} It is consistently listed in the top cybersecurity conferences to attend each year.{{Cite web |title=The Top 20 Cybersecurity Conferences to Attend in 2020 |url=https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/91672-top-20-cybersecurity-conferences-to-attend-in-2020 |access-date=2022-03-06 |website=www.securitymagazine.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Senior |title=20 worthwhile conferences for women in tech |url=https://www.cio.com/article/217732/conferences-for-women-in-tech.html |access-date=2022-03-06 |website=CIO |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Top 30 cybersecurity conferences of 2022 |url=https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/96895-top-29-cybersecurity-conferences-of-2022 |access-date=2022-03-06 |website=www.securitymagazine.com |language=en}} The conference is focused on recruiting, retaining, and promoting women in cybersecurity, providing an opportunity to network and learn{{Cite web |last=Uchill |first=Joe |date=2021-09-20 |title=What women talk about when women talk about their cybersecurity jobs |url=https://www.scmagazine.com/feature/careers/wiits-what-women-talk-about-when-women-talk-about-their-cybersecurity-jobs?es_p=13853762 |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=www.scmagazine.com |language=en}} from each other{{Cite web |first1=Nathan |last1=Eddy |date=2021-09-03 |title=Women Make Gains in Cybersecurity, But Gaps Remain |url=https://securityboulevard.com/2021/09/women-make-gains-in-cybersecurity-but-gaps-remain/ |access-date=2022-03-06 |website=Security Boulevard |language=en-US}} and presents research on cybersecurity and technical topics.{{Cite journal |title=INROADS |url=https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/2684721#page=81 |journal=ACM Inroads | year=2014 | volume=5 | issue=4 |language=en |doi=10.1145/2684721|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite journal |title=Building a Cybersecurity Pipeline to Attract, Train, and Retain Women |last=Gonzalez |first=Matthew D. |journal=Business Journal for Entrepreneurs |date=2015 |issue=3 |pages=24–41 |url=https://web.s.ebscohost.com/abstract?direct=true&profile=ehost&scope=site&authtype=crawler&jrnl=15481859&AN=110010912&h=GNAmsUuaIu8jJysMBXJGeTe3vGVKBZQFaL9RpufMSCmci9pIT0PeyULaF9mg%2fAekLDDOAAbrjO0vOcytYpkvIw%3d%3d&crl=c&resultNs=AdminWebAuth&resultLocal=ErrCrlNotAuth&crlhashurl=login.aspx%3fdirect%3dtrue%26profile%3dehost%26scope%3dsite%26authtype%3dcrawler%26jrnl%3d15481859%26AN%3d110010912}}

In 2024 the conference grew to over 1,900 attendees and was sponsored by Bloomberg, Fortinet, Raytheon Technologies, Optum, Amazon Web Services, Google, Cisco, Deloitte, SentinelOne, GE, Carnegie Mellon University, National Security Agency and many more. The organization continues to gain support from notable names in technology as additional companies choose to commit to solving the cybersecurity workforce challenges.{{Cite web |first1=Paulina |last1=Cakalli |date=2022-03-02 |title=3 Ways to Expand Gender Diversity in Cybersecurity |url=https://www.darkreading.com/careers-and-people/3-ways-to-expand-gender-diversity-in-cybersecurity |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Dark Reading |language=en}}{{Cite web |last1=Paoli |first1=Chris |last2=March 11, 2022 |title=Microsoft's Commitment To Addressing the Gender Gap in Cybersecurity |url=https://redmondmag.com/articles/2022/03/11/gender-gap-in-cybersecurity.aspx |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Redmondmag |language=en-US}}

Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) has a variety of initiatives and resources to help women aspiring to a career in cybersecurity or those already in the field. Initiatives include professional affiliates, student internship programs, veterans assistance, mentor/mentee programs and apprentice programs.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) has over 300 student chapters in sixteen countries. Student chapters work in their school's community to promote the recruitment, retention and advancement of women students in cybersecurity. At least one Chapter representative is awarded a student scholarship to attend the WiCyS Annual Conference each year. A partnership with Microsoft will expand the number of countries participating in student chapters to 23.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-23 |title=Closing the cybersecurity skills gap – Microsoft expands efforts to 23 countries |url=https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2022/03/23/closing-the-cybersecurity-skills-gap-microsoft-expands-efforts-to-23-countries/ |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=The Official Microsoft Blog |language=en-US}}

In partnership with (ISC)2, Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) offers a Certified in Cybersecurity certification for underrepresented populations. In partnership with the SANS Institute, Women in CyberSecurity offers a Security Training Scholarship for Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) members seeking cybersecurity employment. The scholarship is funded by Google,{{Cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Rhea |date=July 21, 2021 |title=Women's Cybersecurity Training Program Expands with Google Support - |url=https://campustechnology.com/articles/2021/07/21/womens-cybersecurity-training-program-expands-with-google-support.aspx |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=Campus Technology |language=en-US}} Bloomberg, and Craig Newmark Philanthropies.{{Cite web |title=Google, Bloomberg and Facebook pledge support for second year of Security Training Scholarship Program for women |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-bloomberg-and-facebook-pledge-support-for-second-year-of-security-training-scholarship-program-for-women/ |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=ZDNET |language=en}} WiCyS also offers a Cyber Defense Challenge program with the Target cybersecurity team.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-25 |title=WiCyS Members Now Have Access to Cyber Defense Challenge Through Target |url=https://www.darkreading.com/operations/wicys-members-now-have-access-to-cyber-defense-challenge-through-target |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=Dark Reading |language=en}}

{{reflist}}

Category:Internet properties disestablished in 2013

Category:Computer security organizations