Engaging females in cybersecurity: K through Gray

Cybersecurity concerns are in the news on a daily basis, from large data breaches to attacks on power stations. Equally widely acknowledged in the press is the shortage of cybersecurity professionals to protect our digital world, particularly the lack of females in the profession (current estimates are around eleven percent). This paper looks at the concept of “cybersecurity for all” emphasizing personal responsibility for security and privacy as well as the development of a more inclusive cybersecurity workforce. The paper examines strategies for teaching cybersecurity at all ages (from K through Gray, including incorporating the scientific method. It also discusses techniques for making the cybersecurity career more attractive and accessible to females, with a view to recruiting and retaining more talented females into this growing profession.