On 9 August, South Africa honours the women who, in 1956, marched in solidarity against injustice: 20 000 strong, united by courage and determination. Nearly seventy years later, their spirit endures, inspiring women in every sphere of life.
By Jaya Khatri, HR director at Trend Micro MMEA
Today, a new generation leads a different kind of struggle: in the digital realm, women are once again at the forefront, discreetly but powerfully shaping the future of cyber defense.
Across Africa, a quiet revolution is reshaping cybersecurity. It’s not driven by slogans or quotas, but by women who are entering the field not to fit in, but to reimagine it. They’re not asking for seats at the table. They’re redesigning the table itself.
As the continent embraces a digital future, from mobile banking to smart cities, cybersecurity has become the backbone of modern life. And in this high-stakes environment, diversity isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a necessity.
Women bring a distinct lens to cybersecurity: one grounded in systems thinking, empathy, collaboration, and human-centric design. These aren’t soft skills. In today’s threat landscape, they’re survival skills.
Reimagining the role of the cyber defender
Globally, women now make up 24% of the cybersecurity workforce, up from just 11% in 2013. According to the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), the numbers in Africa are lower, between 9% and 11%, but rising steadily. And behind each percentage point is a story of leadership, innovation, and impact.
Take Confidence Staveley, founder of Nigeria’s CyberSafe Foundation. Her organisation has trained thousands of women and girls in digital hygiene and cyber resilience. Or Dr Bright Gameli Mawudor in Kenya, whose inclusive training programmes are helping build an ecosystem where women thrive.
These are not isolated efforts, they are part of a growing movement.
At Trend Micro, we’ve seen this transformation firsthand. Our female engineers, analysts, and policy advisors across Africa are helping governments, enterprises, and NGOs build stronger cyber defences. They’re not just protecting systems, they’re protecting societies.
Women are also expanding the definition of what it means to be a cyber defender. In communities vulnerable to mobile-based threats and social engineering scams, they’re translating complex security concepts into practical, relatable messages for schools, small businesses, and families. They’re building trust, not just firewalls.
As Trend Micro’s co-founder and CEO Eva Chen puts it: “If we want to build a safer digital world, we need to build a more inclusive one. Diverse minds protect diverse communities.”
Extending the focus beyond recruitment
The numbers above are a clear sign that more inclusive recruitment efforts in cybersecurity are gaining traction. Companies like Trend Micro are actively partnering with universities and technical institutions to position cybersecurity as a viable and exciting career path for women – and the momentum is encouraging.
But progress doesn’t stop at recruitment. Retention is just as critical. Women aren’t leaving cybersecurity because they lack capability, they’re leaving because they lack support. Flexible work models, mentorship, and leadership development aren’t perks; they’re essential infrastructure. When that infrastructure is in place, women don’t just stay, they lead.
True inclusion lives beyond hiring. It’s embedded in how we develop leaders, plan for succession, and create environments where women are seen, heard, and elevated.
At Trend Micro, we’ve learned that flexibility isn’t a benefit for women, it’s a business enabler. Whether through hybrid roles, career re-entry programmes, or personalised development journeys, we aim to help women build careers that align with life, not compete with it.
Internally, we ensure women have access to leadership pathways, flexible career options, and strong support networks. We’re proud of the growing number of women in our engineering, research, and customer success teams across the region; many of whom are now mentoring the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
Our commitment extends beyond the workplace. Through global and regional initiatives, we support women-led innovation, mentorship, and skills development. Programmes like Cybersecurity Education for Kids and Families, launched in several African countries, equip young girls with the tools to navigate technology safely and confidently.
This Women’s Day, we’re not just celebrating the past. We’re declaring what’s possible when inclusion becomes action. The question is no longer whether women belong in cybersecurity. They do. The real question is whether our systems are ready to keep up with their ambition.
Because the future of cybersecurity won’t be written by a single voice. It will be shaped by those who lead with empathy, who value difference, and who build cultures where everyone can rise.