Yooung Women in Cybersecurity
Introduction
En América Latina, less than 10% of positions in the Information Technology (IT) and Cybersecurity industries are held by women. To address this disparity, we have launched several programs and projects aimed at increasing female inclusion and participation in these fields. Among our prominent initiatives are the "Morras Tics" club and the "Empowerment of Young Women in Cd. Juárez" project. These programs have allowed thousands of women to access training in digital skills, cybersecurity, and data protection, as well as participate in specialized workshops and courses.
Below, we detail our projects:
Data Protection
The Cybersecurity Network was selected by the National Institute for Access to Information and Data Protection (INAI) to develop a project in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. The project's objective, titled "Empowerment of young women in Cd Juárez through the exercise of their Rights of Personal Data Protection and Access to Information," was to help young women understand their rights to access information and data protection, as well as ways to protect them.
For the execution of the project, approaches were made to:
Additionally, the support of the Ministry of Economic Development was enlisted for the event's promotion, and an alliance was formed with the Axel Foundation for the execution and dissemination of the workshops.
An alliance with COBACH was key to delivering the course at their facilities, where both young students and teachers from the institution participated. This partnership will allow for the continuation of other courses and activities that reinforce the rights of access to information (DAI) and the rights of personal data protection (DPDP) among women in Ciudad Juárez. Currently, direct collaboration is ongoing with the Mexican Youth Institute and the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation to promote and deliver the courses to young people in different states of the country.
During the project, 8 in-person workshops and 6 virtual workshops related to Data Analysis and Interpretation (DAI) and Data Protection and Privacy (DPDP) were conducted for young women. In total, over 300 people participated directly and over 800 indirectly. Self-paced digital courses based on the developed educational program were created, allowing the project to continue beyond Ciudad Juárez.
Pamela S. and Nancy M., participants of the in-person training courses, designed a plan to prevent violence against women in Ciudad Juárez. Their project starts with requesting access to information regarding cases of violence against women in the neighborhoods of Ciudad Juárez, as a result of the course provided with the support of PROSEDE. Based on the information obtained, they will make proposals to improve the situation in their community.
The project participants identified that the exercise of Data Analysis and Interpretation (DAI) could be useful for proposing projects or solutions to community problems, and that Data Protection and Privacy (DPDP) measures could be used to protect their privacy and prevent sales calls. Most participants applied their knowledge to request opposition or cancellation of the use of their personal data, thereby reducing harassment and stalking by companies offering services through telephone calls.
Los avances e impacto del proyecto fueron presentados durante los foros de Ciberseguridad organizados por la Guardia Nacional y el IFT en octubre de 2023. Además, los cursos de capacitación fueron publicados en la plataforma digital academia.redporlaciberseguridad.org, allowing the project to be extended to other cities and continued over time.
Morras TICs Club
The main objectives are:
- Increasing the visibility of women in the Technology and Cybersecurity industry by highlighting their legacies, stories, and contributions.
- Increasing women's participation in the Technology and Cybersecurity industry by inspiring girls and teenagers to choose these careers and promoting their inclusion in educational and work centers in Mexico.
- Promoting the advancement of women throughout their careers as leaders in the Technology and Cybersecurity industry.
- Increasing the number of women in leadership positions in the Technology and Cybersecurity industry.
Strategies
VISIBILIZATION OF WOMEN IN THE INDUSTRY
- Research and content generation regarding women, their legacies, stories, and contributions in the ICT and cybersecurity industry.
- Promotion of the naming of public and private spaces in honor of women in the ICT and cybersecurity industry.
INSPIRING GIRLS AND TEENAGERS
- Creation, promotion, and delivery of workshops and educational programs aimed at girls and teenagers, focusing on women's participation in the ICT and cybersecurity industry as an inspirational element.
MEXICANAS TIC Badge and Morras Tics Club
- MEXICANAS TIC Badge, for educational centers committed to the program, awarded by the Cybersecurity Network.
- MORRAS TICS Club, women's groups in educational centers that carry out training, awareness-raising, and visibility activities for women in the ICT and cybersecurity industry.
The first members of the club are students from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). These members have participated in conferences on the importance of women in STEM, the evolution of ICT, and the enhancement of digital skills, sharing this knowledge with their peers on campus through training sessions, workshops, and presentations on cloud cybersecurity and the importance of women in STEAM careers. So far, the members have trained over 150 students and teachers at the Faculty of Superior Studies Acatlán.
The Morras Tics club aims to develop the "MEXICANAS TIC", an emblem that recognizes educational institutions committed to the inclusion of girls, adolescents, and women in the ICT and cybersecurity industry. This badge is granted by the Cybersecurity Network to those educational institutions that, in conjunction with the Morras Tics club, develop a protocol for raising awareness and preventing digital violence, as well as policies against violence.
Operation Aleph: Women Trained in Cybersecurity
Operación Aleph, a visionary initiative born with the mission of educating and raising awareness about cybersecurity, has left an indelible mark in the technological sphere. This program, developed by the Cybersecurity Network with the support of Microsoft, stood out for its commitment to inclusion and comprehensive training.
One of the fundamental objectives of Operation Aleph was to reduce the gender gap in the cybersecurity sector. Through the creation of a community of professional women in cybersecurity, the program promoted collaboration, knowledge exchange, and mentorship, increasing female participation in a field where women represent only 11% of the workforce. In Operation Aleph, they demonstrated a keen interest in the field to bring it into their work environment, representing thousands of women.
Operation Aleph left a lasting legacy of trained professionals who are aware of the importance of online security, such as:
- Certifications such as SC-900, SC-200, and AZ-500 allowed them to specialize in Microsoft security and technologies.
- The importance of protecting your personal and work-related information in a digitized world.
- Identifying and mitigating threats such as phishing and malware in your workplaces.
- Knowledge exchange and mentorship among participants were encouraged, creating a supportive environment for professional growth.
- The participants acquired the necessary skills to address cybersecurity challenges in their workplaces, thereby contributing to the creation of a safer and more responsible digital environment.
The program is conducted virtually and is structured into four main lines of training::
Cybersecurity in the Work: Focused on teaching participants about cyber risks in the workplace and how to protect devices, financial information, and personal data against threats such as phishing and malware.
Security Fundamentals (SC-900): Aimed at students and IT professionals, this course covered key concepts of security, compliance, and identity, as well as the capabilities of Microsoft Azure Active Directory and other Microsoft security solutions.
Security Technologies in Azure (SC-200): Focused on advanced training on security technologies in Azure, threat mitigation, and incident management using tools such as Microsoft 365 Defender, Azure Defender, and Microsoft Sentinel.
AZ-500 Certification: Focused on the implementation of security solutions and identity and access management in Azure, helping professionals develop critical skills to protect cloud environments.
Operation Aleph stands as a beacon in cybersecurity, illuminating the path to knowledge and awareness in an increasingly complex digital world. Supported by Microsoft, it strengthens gender inclusion in a field historically dominated by men. Its impact transcends its years of activity, leaving a legacy of empowered professionals and contributing to a safer and more responsible digital future.
TESTIMONIALS
