IBM supports UK initiative to inspire girls in cybersecurity

IBM is teaming up with the UK government to encourage young girls to pursue careers in cybersecurity. The tech giant will provide an online platform for the CyberFirst Girls competition in 2025. This program is designed to help close the skills gap in cybersecurity. The CyberFirst Girls competition is aimed at girls aged 12 and 13. Launched in 2017 by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), it has already attracted over 85,000 participants. Girls participating in the competition will face challenges in areas like cryptography, networking, and artificial intelligence. Currently, women represent only 17% of the UK’s cybersecurity workforce. There is a growing demand for skilled professionals in this field, with average salaries over £56,000. Feryal Clark, the Minister for Cyber Security, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating it will help develop the next generation of cyber leaders. The UK's cyber sector has the potential to grow to £12 billion, but it still struggles with a significant skills shortage. This gap leaves the industry vulnerable to cyberattacks and other security issues. New investments in cybersecurity are being made to strengthen defenses and address these challenges.