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Kamis, 28 November 2019 08:58:00

AiSP launches Singapore's first ladies in cybersecurity mentorship programme to bolster country's digital defence

Initiative aims to plug the industry’s talent gap, spur female participation in cybersecurity, and transform the role women play in Singapore’s defence

SINGAPORE - 27 November 2019 - The Association of Information Security Professionals (AiSP) today launched a Singapore-first mentorship programme that will groom female cybersecurity professionals in the republic.

This move will boost the number and skillsets of female cybersecurity talent, address the shortage of cybersecurity professionals needed to tackle escalating online threats, and enable women to play a bigger role in the nation's defence.

As the country continues to roll out Smart Nation initiatives and build up its digital economy, the strengthening of cybersecurity capabilities and fostering of a resilient and trusted cyber environment will be an immediate priority.

However, according to the  (ISC)2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, there is a shortage of 4 million cybersecurity professionals globally.

AiSP's Ladies in Cyber Mentorship programme gives mentors the opportunity to share their life lessons and work experience with interested students from Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) in Singapore over one year, while providing them with guidance to enter and advance in the cyber workforce.

Besides grooming the next generation of cybersecurity talents, this programme also boosts the participants' cybersecurity literacy, allowing them to develop the competencies to play a bigger part in everyday digital defence. 

"There is a critical lack of cybersecurity professionals in Singapore to defend our digital assets and we need to do more to encourage women to join the profession," said Dr Steven Wong, President of AiSP. "Through our Ladies in Cyber charter and newly launched mentorship programme, we want to start a movement where female role models can inspire more women to take up cybersecurity as a career option, and excel in their domains of choice."

"Women have every potential to play a larger role in Singapore's defence," said Sherin Y Lee, head of AiSP's Ladies in Cyber charter. "AiSP aims to help them along by increasing their awareness of cybersecurity issues, drawing them into the industry, and progressing to leadership positions. Such cybersecurity talent development programmes will have a big impact on Singapore because we are so digitally connected as a society − from the smart watches we wear to the utility meters in our homes."

Close to 50 mentors -- senior executives in the fields of cybersecurity technology, regulatory compliance, audit, product management and marketing − have signed up for the AiSP mentorship programme, and the association aims to double this number by end-2020. (*).