Cyber security is one of the fastest-growing professions in the UK. But one of the sector’s biggest opportunities for growth lies not in technology, but in diversity. 

The A wave in cyber: The ascent of cyber security as an essential UK occupation report from Socura, a Cardiff Capital Region–based managed detection and response provider, highlights a striking trend: cyber security jobs are growing rapidly, but gender representation still has a long way to go. 

According to Socura’s analysis of Office for National Statistics data, the UK cyber workforce has grown dramatically since 2021. 

• The number of cyber security professionals has increased by 194% since 2021, rising from 28,500 to 83,700. 
• Cyber security is now the fastest-growing IT profession in the UK. 
• It is the fifth fastest-growing occupation overall across more than 400 tracked by the ONS. 

These numbers show a profession expanding at extraordinary speed. But they also reveal an important imbalance. 

The number of women working in cyber security has increased by 163% since 2021, rising from 6,800 to 17,900 professionals. That represents significant progress. 

Yet women still make up only around one in five cyber professionals. In other words, while more women are entering the industry, their representation hasn’t kept pace with the overall growth in roles. In 2021, women accounted for nearly a quarter of the workforce (24%), meaning their share has actually fallen as the sector has expanded. 

Cyber security is fundamentally about problem-solving, anticipating threats and designing resilient systems. That work benefits from diversity of perspective. 

When the sector draws talent from a narrow demographic pool, it risks limiting the range of thinking needed to tackle increasingly complex cyber threats.  

At the same time, the cyber skills gap remains significant. The Socura report highlights that the UK still has only one cyber security professional for every 68 businesses. 

Closing that gap will require expanding the talent pipeline, and that means ensuring women are encouraged, supported and visible within the profession. 

As Dr Clare Johnson, Founder of Women in Cyber Unlimited, explains in the Socura report: 

“Initiatives such as the CyberFirst Girls’ competition and the increasing number of Women in Cyber networks are important in addressing this imbalance. Providing a platform for women to showcase their skills and meet other women, alongside being visible role models, all helps to raise awareness of the importance of diversity. The more brilliant minds we have working on cyber security challenges, the more resilient we will all be.” 

Supporting diversity in cyber also requires strong professional networks. In 2018, Dr Clare Johnson founded Women in Cyber Unlimited to address the lack of visibility and support networks for women working in the sector. 

What began as a small initiative has grown into a community of nearly 500 members across the UK and beyond, connecting students, career changers and experienced professionals.  

On 23 March 2026, Women in Cyber Unlimited will host the Women in Cyber Conference: Defending the Future at ICC Wales, bringing together professionals, students and industry leaders to explore how the sector can become more inclusive while strengthening cyber resilience. 

Following the success of Securing the Future: Women in Cyber (2024) and Resilient Futures: Women in Cyber (2025), this third national conference will celebrate the work women are doing across the sector and highlight the importance of building a diverse cyber workforce. 

Cyber Innovation Hub is sponsoring the event, supporting initiatives that create more opportunities for women entering and progressing in cyber careers. 

The conference will include sessions on: 

• Current cyber security threats and challenges 
• Skills development and career pathways 
• Growing professional networks 
• Interactive cyber security activities suitable for all levels 

Attendees will also hear from women working across different industries and have opportunities to connect with organisations from across the UK, including industry leaders, government-funded bodies and training providers. 

Find out more and register: 

For those considering a career in cyber security, or looking to progress further in the sector, now is an exciting time to get involved. 

There are many ways to enter and grow within the cyber profession. Here are a few places to start: 

Explore the breadth of cyber careers. Cyber security spans a wide range of roles, from security engineering and ethical hacking to risk management, governance, compliance and threat intelligence. 

Upskill and grow. Certifications, bootcamps and hands-on training programmes can accelerate both confidence and career progression – Take a look at our range of Bitesize Cyber Courses. 

Join a network. Communities like Women in Cyber Unlimited provide mentorship, support and valuable professional connections. 

Stay ahead. Cyber security evolves rapidly. Keeping up with emerging technologies, threats and industry trends is key. 

Showcase your strengths. Cyber teams rely on a mix of technical expertise, problem-solving, communication and collaboration, skills that are all highly valued across the sector. 

For more insights into starting a cyber career, listen to our Cyber Careers podcast with Careers Wales, where we explore what cyber security is, how to stay safe online and how you can get into the industry.