Women in Israeli Cybersecurity Face Old Stereotypes Amid AI Revolution

On International Women in Cyber Day, observed annually on September 1st, data reveals that women constitute only about 26% of cybersecurity professionals in Israel, with just 5.1% of cyber companies led by female CEOs. Despite a 140% increase in women in R&D roles over the past decade, they still represent only around 26.5% of the R&D workforce. Liron Yusefian, a research group leader at Check Point, highlights the persistent, outdated perception that technological and analytical professions are more suited for men, a belief that influences career choices from a young age. She notes that while this view is changing, it still impacts young women's decisions.

The International Women in Cyber Day, founded in 2018, aims to showcase women's contributions to the industry, address existing barriers, and encourage more women and girls to pursue cybersecurity careers. Yusefian, who has been with Check Point for ten years, transitioned from sales development to R&D, eventually leading a research group. She describes her work as dynamic, involving tracking global threats, simulating attacks, and developing defenses, with the AI revolution offering both new offensive capabilities and advanced tools for defenders.

Gal Cohen, 26, a development team lead at MIND, was drawn to cybersecurity by its complexity and the required analytical thinking, stemming from her experience in Unit 8200. She believes the historical male dominance in tech and security fields contributes to the industry's lingering image, but sees a positive shift with more women in significant technological roles. Cohen emphasizes the need for early exposure to technology and cyber for girls to foster interest.

Noam Raveh, Product Team Lead at Sweet Security, entered the field somewhat by chance after a career in product management. She views cybersecurity as a rapidly evolving domain, closely linked to AI, offering a balance of deep expertise and innovation. Raveh points to the cultural stereotype of the "hacker in a hoodie" as a major barrier, making it difficult for girls to envision themselves in the field. She advocates for early STEM education and presenting cybersecurity as a broad field encompassing technology, product, research, business, and creativity.

All three women stressed the importance of curiosity, courage, and continuous learning for success in cybersecurity. They advised against fearing failure, embracing independent learning, asking questions, and asserting one's voice. Finding role models who have broken stigmas was also highlighted as crucial for aspiring women in the field.