Acronis, a global leader in cybersecurity and data protection, presented the results of research on the current state of the 'gender gap' in the information technology sector during the MSP Global held in Tarragona (Spain).
The survey, titled “The New FOMO: Females Fear Missing Opportunities in IT,” highlights the current challenges, perceptions and opportunities for women currently working in this industry.
As a historically male-dominated market, many tech companies have often been cited as having limited professional development opportunities for female employees. A judgment to which factors such as the lack of mentorship, inadequate criteria for work-life balance and, sometimes, even a real culture of exclusion contribute. To gain insight into the implementation of true inclusion in IT companies, Acronis commissioned a survey of over 320 full-time female employees* to gauge their sentiment on gender equality and identify what organizations can do to encourage more women to consider careers in the industry.
The results of the survey showed that, while 32% of those interviewed already think that both sexes receive the same treatment in the workplace, 31% of women firmly believe that men are promoted faster. 71% said they are working more hours to increase their chances of career advancement, while 63% believe there is a lack of female leadership in the cybersecurity world and 84% agree that technology companies would benefit if female leadership roles increased.
When it comes to professional development opportunities, 34% of respondents only partially agree that adequate training and development programs exist for women to advance their careers. Masterclass sessions, learning courses and workshops are seen as the most important activities women think they should participate in (63%), followed by networking events (58%) and membership of professional organizations (44%). Mentorship opportunities (51%), actively hiring more diverse candidates (49%) and pay equity (49%) are among the main initiatives indicated by interviewees that could be adopted by the organization to balance the gender gap.
“To advance gender equality in the technology sector, we must recognize that encouraging women to take on IT roles is not only a moral imperative, but a strategic advantage that offers great opportunities for both women and the organizations that hire them,” said Alona Geckler, Senior Vice President Business Operations and Chief of Staff at Acronis, “By hiring women in IT roles, companies would broaden their perspectives and benefit from innovative ideas that arise from their greater creativity and problem solving skills. It would strengthen teams, but enable IT businesses to better meet the needs of their customers in an increasingly complex digital landscape, giving them a significant competitive advantage.”
Acronis offers mentorship programs within the #CyberWomen initiative that identifies, educates, inspires and trains the next generation of women leaders. The program selects women with high potential with the aim of offering them the guidance of top and executive managers, board members and Acronis consultants.
* The survey surveyed 327 full-time female IT employees in the US, UK, Spain and Switzerland.
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