At least 100,000 Filipino women will undergo in-depth training with Microsoft, the tech giant announced during a trade mission in Manila. 

According to Microsoft official Mary Snapp, the trainees will learn how to use the company’s AI tools, including the ones powered by OpenAI’s large language model, to recognise cybersecurity threats. 

“We are very excited about the potential for the Philippines to drive economic advancement using enhanced AI technology in a positive way,” she said, adding that the program will be a partnership with government agencies and local schools. 

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A promising future for PH’s cybersecurity sector

The Philippines has become a reliable source for tech talent in the last few years, with many IT business process outsourcing firms serving thousands of tech companies across the globe. 

With continued and boosted government support, the cybersecurity landscape in the Philippines is poised to flourish in the next few years.

In fact, the national government is set to roll out a five-year cybersecurity plan this year to put the Philippines’ cybersecurity sector at par with the world. 

Information and Communications Secretary Ivan Uy told the press last month that the national cybersecurity plan is a policy direction with operational guidelines that will define cyber assets and infrastructure that need to be protected. 

“It also provides how all of the different government agencies, the different sectors – whether its energy, transportation, finance sector – can come together and address quick responses in case there are any attacks or any attempts, and a good coordination mechanism so that these information are shared,” he added.

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A growing need for cybersecurity talent

The cybersecurity sector is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world today. It is seen to reach $638 billion in less than 10 years, with an average annual growth of 13.4% until 2032, according to a study by research and analytics firm Astute Analytica. 

The study, as reported by Yahoo Finance, found that the evolution of today’s technology, including the birth of artificial intelligence, increased the demand for cyber protection, especially in defense against numerous cyberthreats, disinformation, cyberbullying, and more.

A 2023 survey by infosec website Help Net Security showed that 71% of organizations report being affected by a shortage of skills in cybersecurity, a dramatic increase from the previous year's 57%, showing the urgent need for more talent in this sector. 

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Women in the cybersecurity space

In the United States alone, only 24% of the cybersecurity workforce is held by women, a study by the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2). The numbers are steadily going up, albeit at a slow pace. 

Stereotypes against women in the technology sector is one of the major obstacles for female cybersecurity professionals to thrive. There’s also a misconception that cybersecurity work is purely technical when the sector also needs creativity, among others. 

Besides the talent shortage, the cybersecurity space needs more women onboard, practically because the industry is fighting of threats that come from diverse backgrounds. In this case, predominantly male industry would have a limited view on creative and effective solutions.

Women in cybersecurity provides not just diversity in people but also diversity in ideas, which is always a welcome development in any industry. 

To achieve gender parity in the cybersecurity and technology space, there must be a close collaboration between governments, investors, and organisational leaders.

Besides just the sheer number of women in the workforce, we need more women in leadership positions. 

A recent Deloitte study showed continued progress in the pursuit of gender parity across the world. But the pace has been slower with some leaders urging governments to intervene with regulatory mandates.