Women Battle Glass Ceiling in Israel's Booming Cyber Industry

Despite Israel's reputation for innovation and disruption in the cybersecurity sector, a significant gender gap persists, particularly in leadership roles. While women are present and contributing to technological development and company management, their numbers dwindle significantly at higher echelons. This disparity is rooted in a culture often shaped by military technology units like Unit 8200, where traditional gender roles can emerge, leading women to constantly prove themselves and face biases.

Shahhar Bahat, CEO and founder of Pluto Security, a 50-person company with R&D in Israel and sales in the US, shared her experiences. Having served in Unit 8200, she notes that even in military tech roles, women are often mistaken for administrative staff rather than problem-solvers. This necessitates demonstrating strength and control to be taken seriously, a trait sometimes perceived as aggression in women, unlike in men. Post-military, Bahat observes similar challenges regarding salaries and promotions, where age is used against women who advance quickly, while men at the same level are not perceived as "too young." Securing funding also presents hurdles, with potential investors sometimes questioning women's emotional capacity for critical decisions, even asking about pregnancy or children, and advising against wearing a wedding ring during fundraising.

However, Bahat also highlights a growing support network and acknowledges the advantages of being a minority. She notes that being memorable as the only woman in a room can create a surprising positive effect when she demonstrates expertise. Pluto Security boasts 40% women employees, a figure Bahat is proud of. She credits supportive investors like Rona from TLV Partners and recognizes a positive trend, with five female-led startups emerging in the last two years. She emphasizes the need to invest in military and educational systems to foster change from an earlier stage.

Inbal Argov, VP Product Strategy at Mate, entered the cyber field later in her career, not through the typical military tech route. She experienced being an underdog, especially transitioning into high-tech after serving in different military capacities. Argov believes that while challenging environments can foster a stronger drive in women, the narrative of a male-dominated industry can deter potential female recruits. She points out that Mate, like other companies, actively seeks to recruit women, and she herself prioritizes hiring women for her teams. Argov also notes that while progress is being made, true equality in recognition and opportunity has not yet been achieved.

Data from the Israel Innovation Authority reveals the extent of the problem: in 2024, only 34.5% of students taking advanced computer science matriculation exams were female. In private cyber companies in 2025, women comprised 26.3% of non-managerial staff but only 15.5% of senior managers. Furthermore, only 5.1% of CEOs in cyber companies founded between 2013 and 2024 were women. The IDF stated that efforts to increase female representation in technology and cyber roles are yielding results, with approximately 33% of recruits for cyber defense roles in the 2025 draft year being women. The Computer Service Directorate and Cyber Defense Division reports over 40% women in senior command positions, and the percentage of women completing courses at the Computer Professions School is projected to rise from 43% in 2024 to 46% in 2026.

Eden Katz, a cyber researcher at Alice and a volunteer managing "The Hackers," an organization promoting women in cyber, notes that women are often the sole female presence in meetings. "The Hackers" data shows 18.2% women in roles like Information Security Analyst and Security Researcher, dropping to 14% in advanced research positions. Katz emphasizes that the lack of visible female role models can be a significant barrier for aspiring women in the field.