hat is IWCD?
International Women in Cyber Day is a global movement of women and male advocates who recognize September 1st as a special day set aside to bring awareness to the challenges women face and celebrate women’s achievements within the cybersecurity industry.
The Women CyberSecurity Society (WCS2) celebrated the first women in cybersecurity conference here in Canada with the Inaugural Women in Cybersecurity Conference on September 12, 2019.
Keep on the watch for #IWCD2021 because we’re planning something big! We’re growing our amazing technology and educational partners and sponsors who place value on the contributions of women in this industry and want to celebrate with us in this valuable community!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IWCD?
- International Women in Cyber Day is a global movement of women and male advocates who recognize September 1st as a special day set aside to bring awareness to the issues women face in cybersecurity and celebrate the achievements of women within this industry . This is accomplished through various social media campaigns, petitions, city proclamations and events around the globe.
Why is this needed?
- There is a lack of diversity and inclusion for women who make up a very small percentage of the cybersecurity workforce.
- It is generally accepted, women hold about 11% of the cybersecurity workforce jobs globally.
- Women experience many roadblocks and inherent bias.
- Women are exiting the industry due to the lack of support and inclusion.
What are the goals of IWCD?
- Increase recruitment of women within the cybersecurity workforce.
- Increase the retention rates of women working in cybersecurity.
- Bring awareness to the unique issues and challenges women face within the industry.
- Celebrate the achievement of women.
- Narrow the gender gap.
- Narrow the skills gap.
How can you participate in IWCD?
There are several opportunities for you to get involved and participate in various levels to join the celebration of IWCD!
Become an advocate and champion of women in cybersecurity by petitioning your national government to recognize September 1st as IWCD.
Share Your Story!
Raise Your Voice!
Bring awareness to the unique challenges you face as a woman working in cybersecurity.
Join the fun by creating and sharing your video.
Celebrate Your Achievements!
Tell your story and share across social media platforms using the hashtags
#IWCD2023 #TipTheScale #WomenInCyberDay #Diversity #CyberWomenCelebrate
How Can You Support IWCD? Partnership & Advocacy Program
- Join as an IWCD Charter Member
- Become a member of the Women CyberSecurity Society
- Sponsor an IWCD event
- Host an IWCD event near you
- Attend an IWCD event at a local Meetup near you
Dear IWCD Supporters,
Thank you for all the love and support in 2019 and 2020. Last year’s IWCD campaign was filled with many successes here in Canada, including over 1200 signatures of our International Petition on Change.org.
The Women CyberSecurity Society (WCS2) celebrated the first women in cybersecurity conference here in Canada with the Inaugural Women in Cybersecurity Conference on September 12, 2019. Keynotes for this historic event included speeches from our local Member of Parliament, Hon. Dr Hedy Fry P.C., M.P., and the City of Vancouver’s Councillor, Melissa De Genova who spoke elegantly on the importance of diversity and inclusion and the need for more women in cybersecurity.
We also received three regional declarations from Canada’s leading mayors, across the country. Thank you, Mayor Kennedy Stewart, Mayor Danny Breen, and Mayor Jim Watson for all your support and advocacy of women in cybersecurity during 2019 with more to be announced for 2021!
These three capital regions proclaimed International Women in Cyber Day for September 1st which are the City of Vancouver, the City of St. John’s and the City of Ottawa. See the signed proclamations to the right
We also received this personal conference video message from The Right Honourable Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who supports and advocates on the important role women play within the cybersecurity industry.
The Honourable Dr Hedy Fry, P.C., M.P. is a champion of women in technology who walks the walk by including IWCD on her 2020 Calendar that went out to nearly 700,000 constituents in the Vancouver Centre riding. Thank you, Hon. Hedy Fry!
Keep on the watch for #IWCD2021 because we’re planning something big! We’re growing our amazing technology and educational partners and sponsors who place value on the contributions of women in this industry and want to celebrate with us in this valuable community!
Lastly, we’re submitted our 2021 e-petition to the Government of Canada, which is now awaiting a government response. Sign up to receive updates and announcements on this initiative.
News and Media Celebrating IWCD
AusCERT – https://x.com/empressbat/status/1565145694390059008
AWISN – https://x.com/sisinerdtweets/status/1300771452204056576
Austraila Women In Security Network (AWSN) – https://x.com/awsn_au/status/1432868067332149251
Amazon – https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1929038828
Apple (David Litchfield, Director of Information Security Assurance) – https://x.com/dlitchfield/status/1565387520799834112
Apptega – https://x.com/apptega/status/1565392101428412417
Australian Information Security Association (AISA) National – https://x.com/AISA_National/status/1697495016686727292
Blackberry –
Centre For Cyber Security Research – https://x.com/YCherdantseva/status/1565341904656826369
Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) – https://x.com/CSAsingapore/status/14329206548613324
CyberPeace Institute – https://x.com/CyberpeaceInst/status/1565257698983174144
Cyber Safe Foundation – https://x.com/cybersafehq/status/1697624728008077724
CyberSN (DeidreDiamond) – https://x.com/cyber_sn/status/1300872783447162881
Cyber Solve – https://x.com/CyberSolve_IAM/status/1570529887865409538
Defence Australia – https://x.com/DefenceAust/status/1237956754178076672
Digitial Innovation Futures Victoria – https://x.com/difvic/status/1565132698804518912
Digital Peace Now – https://x.com/DigitalPeaceNow/status/1565404484205002752
eKRAAL Innovation Hub – https://x.com/eKRAALhub/status/1168056043622010880
ITSP Magazine – https://www.itspmagazine.com/events/international-women-in-cyber-day-inaugural-celebration-2019
KeyData Associates – https://x.com/KeydataA/status/1433130310351429633
Concordia University (Women4Cyber)– https://x.com/concordiah2020/status/1300678500815380486
Data61 – https://x.com/Data61news/status/1300703321871663106
Roppers Academy – https://x.com/RoppersAcademy/status/1386386685794136072
SailWithAlba (Founder, Alba Perez) – https://x.com/alibiap/status/1168061974841896961
MISA Ontario – https://x.com/MISAOntario/status/1391820579502706688
National Security Institute USA – https://x.com/MasonNatSec/status/1697709224795455759
Nonprofit Cyber – https://x.com/NonprofitCyber/status/1697634145646649771
NCI Australia – https://x.com/NCInews/status/1301043454684794880
Irish Defence Force (1 Brigade) – https://x.com/1Bde_Official/status/1697639080056533200
CompTIA- https://www.comptia.org/newsroom/women-cybersecurity-society-and-comptia-partner-to-prepare-women-for-careers-in-cybersecurity
eSentire – https://x.com/eSentire/status/1433177268839399431
Dr. Hedy Fry (MP Vancouver Centre) – https://x.com/HedyFry/status/1407450835878125577
Tech Talent Canada – https://x.com/TechTalentCan/status/1565371842525040640
SheSec Pakistan – https://x.com/shesecpakistan/status/1433091972454092801
GovTech Singapore – https://x.com/GovTechSG/status/1565294475965972483
Virginia Cyber Range – https://x.com/VaCyberRange/status/1697656029868101870
ISC2 – https://www.isc2.org/Insights/2023/09/International-Women-in-Cyber-Day-Encourages-and-Celebrates-Women-All-Year-Long
Elder Abuse Prevention of Ontario – https://x.com/EAPreventionON/status/1565368865277755392
Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) – https://x.com/gnwp_gnwp/status/1565442764430610436
Maltego – https://x.com/MaltegoHQ/status/1565278627327053826
National Cryptologic Foundation USA – https://x.com/NCFcyber/status/1565418520480989185
IT Business Canada – https://x.com/itbusinessca/status/1433119970976669698
IT World Canada 2023- https://www.itworldcanada.com/article/international-women-in-cyber-security-day-slow-progress/545952
IT World Canada 2022 – https://www.itworldcanada.com/article/international-women-in-cyber-day-advice-just-say-yes/500901
IT World Canada 2021 – https://www.itworldcanada.com/article/cyber-security-today-sept-1-2021-women-in-cyber-day-weekend-cyber-attack-warning-worst-it-practices-and-beware-of-proxyware/457741
IT World Canada 2020 –
IT World Canada 2019 –
International Days – https://www.internationaldays.co/event-kids/international-women-in-cyber-day/r/recX3vmkJOeWwTHYL
PWC Canada – https://www.instagram.com/p/Cwpm4L9MKmU/
Cyber Magazine – https://cybermagazine.com/cyber-security/international-women-in-cyber-day-1st-september-2023
Cyber-Tech Institute of Australia (CTIA) – https://x.com/CyberTechAU/status/1697514334203912367
Secure Purple (Founder, Adnan Malik) – https://x.com/adnanmalikinfo/status/1300803140032311296
Enterprising Girls – https://x.com/AcademyforEG/status/1300674841452871680
Foley & Lardner LLP – https://www.foley.com/en/insights/publications/2023/08/intl-women-cyber-day-foley-information-security
InfoSecurity Europe – https://x.com/Infosecurity/status/1300832410628763649
We Are Tech Women – https://wearetechwomen.com/international-women-in-cyber-day-its-never-too-late-to-restart-even-with-an-apprenticeship/
The Vertex Project – https://x.com/vtxproject/status/1433176946461007872
VersaSec – https://x.com/versasec/status/1565218210290356224
Security Boulevard – https://securityboulevard.com/2023/09/celebrating-international-women-in-cyber-day-an-interview-with-axiads-karen-larson/
Telecom Review Africa – https://www.telecomreviewafrica.com/en/articles/features/3726-international-women-in-cyber-day-empowering-women-in-africa-and-beyond
Cyber Protection Magazine – https://cyberprotection-magazine.com/10261-2
ORION – https://x.com/ORIONNetwork/status/1433063647274799106
Hack Hunter (CEO, Tracie Thompson) – https://x.com/CEOTracie/status/1300616086027513856
Wicys Windsor – https://wicyswindsor.wordpress.com/2019/07/30/the-current-state-of-women-in-cybersecurity/
ASEAN Tech & Sec (Southeast Asian Nations) – https://aseantechsec.com/top-women-in-cyber-asean-region-recognising-iwcd2022/
Wicys Minnesota – https://mnwicys.org/events/
City of St. John’s –
City of Halifax – https://x.com/MikeSavageHFX/status/1567183474552889344
City of Charlettetown –
City of Fredricton –
City of Ottawa – https://x.com/JimWatsonOttawa/status/1565346308495331328
City of Regina –
City of Winnipeg –
City of Calgary –
City of Vancouver –
FORVIS (Cindy Boyle – National Practice Lead) – https://www.forvis.com/video/2023/08/international-women-in-cyber-day
Cybercrime Magazine – https://cybercrimemagazine.com
Pentara Security – https://x.com/penterasec/status/1701886505952620699
Data Security Council of India – https://x.com/DSCI_Connect/status/1565321346376028161
DigitalXRAID – https://www.linkedin.com/posts/digitalxraid-ltd_cybersecurity-internationalwomenincyberday-activity-7103337218139676672-ZrTn
Information Technology Outsource El Salvador – https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch-7f29NM3Z
Myntex Inc. – https://x.com/MyntexInc/status/1565464859147395078
IT Governance – https://x.com/ITGovernance/status/1432984131537940481
Integrity360 – https://x.com/Integrity360/status/1697271653128974431
Optiv (Cheryl McGrath) – https://www.itworldcanada.com/article/international-women-in-cyber-security-day-slow-progress/545952
Sekuro Australia – https://www.instagram.com/p/CwoYHJnRVJv/
ThreatQuotient – https://x.com/ThreatQuotient/status/1697595253375590819
Wicys San Diego – https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch-i2EsI4qX/
Women in Digital – https://womenindigital.org/?s=women+in+cyber+day
One In Tech – An ISACA Foundation – https://x.com/WeAreOneInTech/status/1433149240113438724?s=20
Blacks In Cybersecurity – https://x.com/BlackInCyberCo1/status/1698003157836517490
Exabeam – https://x.com/exabeam/status/1565465963272830978
IT Governance USA – https://x.com/ITG_USA/status/1565393854815248387
The Confident Mother – https://x.com/SherryRB/status/1697502317073850827
Xero Fox – https://x.com/ZeroFox/status/1565471228164509697
Inviciti Security (CPO Sonali Shah’s Story) – https://www.itworldcanada.com/article/international-women-in-cyber-day-advice-just-say-yes/500901
NC Tech Association – https://x.com/NCTA/status/1565396500246663170
UK Cyber Security Council – https://x.com/UKCyberCouncil/status/1610305612243402755
GRC eLearning – https://x.com/GRC_eLearning/status/1565293543853277185
LatinX DLN – https://x.com/LatinxDLN/status/1435346220168486912
Day of Shecurity – https://x.com/DayOfShecurity/status/1433163487891558403
Elle Romanoff – https://x.com/dystopianllama/status/1433118412025257987
Lianne Potter (Head of SecOps UK) – https://x.com/Tech_Soapbox/status/1168062767292702720
Partner at EY Oceania (Michelle Price) – https://x.com/Mich11775/status/1565130895153307650
Ingrid Hernandez (Associate Attorney) – https://x.com/Ingrid_HdezS/status/1697681940554354704
Jobl3ss Hack3r – https://x.com/Hack3rJobl3ss/status/1433055223271108608
Lee Reiber (CEO & Founder of Oxygen Forensics) – https://x.com/Celldet/status/1389673533895319554
Paramount Software Solutions – https://x.com/Paramount_GA/status/1565369917834240001
Penten – https://x.com/PentenCyber/status/1168027575492300800
Level Effect LLC – https://x.com/Level_Effect/status/1389248410503598083
Cardiff University (Prof. Pete Burnap) – https://x.com/pbFeed/status/1565439286023012353
CASIS Vancouver – https://x.com/CASISVancouver/status/1171908388982157312
Cybersecurity in Africa – https://x.com/CyberInAfrica/status/1432961424444252161
WCS2 Gambia – https://x.com/WCS2_Gambia/status/1565262032647102464
Innovation Cybersecurity Ecosystem at BLOCK71 (ICE71) – https://x.com/ICE71_/status/1300636372852551681
Triple OKLaw LLP, Kenya –
Techerati – https://x.com/The_Techerati/status/1697579440308379691
WIT Network – https://x.com/TheWITNetwork/status/1168194066128998400
Xalient (CEO, Sherry Vaswani) – https://x.com/Xalient/status/1697582943353340170
PRPR UK – https://x.com/prpr_uk/status/1697621089919131800
Dean Walton (PWC Partner) – https://x.com/DeanTWalton/status/1698726264159572131
Cybersixgill – https://x.com/Cybersixgill/status/1697715448580915518
Sincerely,
Board of Directors
IWCD Ambassadors
Advisory Committee
Women CyberSecurity Society
International Women in Cyber Day