Conference Description
Key Takeaways
- Non-profit initiative focused on advancing women in IT security and cybersecurity roles
- Technical topics include digital sovereignty, post-quantum cryptography, and artificial intelligence
- Speakers drawn from industry, government, academia, and public sector organisations
- Designed for professionals ranging from early-career practitioners to senior executives
- Supported by major technology and cybersecurity organisations including Schwarz Digits, Google Cloud Security, Microsoft, and BSI
Introduction
CYBERWOMEN is a non-profit initiative that brings together women working in IT security alongside those seeking to enter the field. Founded by Dr. Alexander Schellong and supported by Schwarz Digits, the event addresses a persistent challenge within the cybersecurity industry: the significant underrepresentation of women in technical and leadership roles. At a time when organisations face mounting pressure from sophisticated threat actors, regulatory requirements, and the rapid adoption of emerging technologies, building a more diverse security workforce has become both a strategic imperative and an operational necessity.
A Platform for Professional Exchange in IT Security
Unlike commercially oriented conferences, CYBERWOMEN prioritises dialogue over product promotion. The initiative creates space for substantive conversations about technical cybersecurity challenges and the broader societal factors that shape the profession. Held at the Schwarz Digits Campus in Bad Friedrichshall, the in-person format emphasises direct interaction through keynote presentations, panel discussions, and structured networking opportunities.
The speaker programme draws from diverse professional backgrounds. Representatives from private industry share perspectives alongside government officials, academic researchers, and public sector practitioners. This cross-sector approach reflects the reality that cybersecurity challenges rarely respect organisational boundaries, and effective responses increasingly depend on collaboration between different stakeholder groups.
Technical and Strategic Discussion Themes
The programme addresses both immediate operational concerns and longer-term strategic questions facing security professionals. Digital sovereignty features prominently, reflecting growing European attention to technological independence and data protection. As organisations evaluate their reliance on external technology providers, security leaders must balance operational efficiency against geopolitical and regulatory considerations.
Emerging technology topics include artificial intelligence and post-quantum cryptography. AI presents a dual challenge for security teams: it offers powerful capabilities for threat detection and response automation, while simultaneously enabling more sophisticated attack techniques. Post-quantum cryptography, meanwhile, requires organisations to begin planning for a future in which current encryption standards may become vulnerable to quantum computing capabilities.
Public sector digitalisation represents another significant thread, acknowledging that government agencies face distinct security challenges as they modernise legacy systems and expand digital services. The intersection of these technical domains with leadership development and policy considerations gives the programme practical relevance across different career stages and organisational contexts.
Addressing the Diversity Gap in Cybersecurity
The cybersecurity industry continues to struggle with workforce shortages, and the underrepresentation of women compounds this challenge. CYBERWOMEN responds by creating dedicated opportunities for mentorship, knowledge sharing, and professional connection that might otherwise be difficult to access. The initiative recognises that technical competence alone does not guarantee career advancement, and that networks and visibility play crucial roles in professional development.
By bringing together participants from technology companies, energy providers, retail organisations, law enforcement agencies, and academic institutions, the event facilitates connections across sectors that rarely interact directly. These relationships can prove valuable when navigating career transitions or seeking guidance on unfamiliar challenges.
Who Should Attend
The initiative serves a broad spectrum of professionals. Chief Information Security Officers and senior security leaders can engage with peers facing similar strategic challenges. Cybersecurity engineers, IT architects, and technical practitioners benefit from exposure to emerging technologies and implementation approaches. Digital transformation leaders gain insight into security considerations that should inform modernisation efforts. Students and early-career professionals find mentorship opportunities and visibility into potential career paths.
The supporting organisations reflect the initiative’s credibility within the broader security community. Partners include established technology providers such as Google Cloud Security and Microsoft, specialist security firms including Orange Cyberdefense and Sentinel One, and professional bodies such as ISACA, BSI, and the European Cyber Security Organisation.
Building Sustainable Change
CYBERWOMEN positions itself around a clear purpose: shaping the digital future through collective action and standing together for digital sovereignty. The non-profit structure reinforces this community-driven orientation, distinguishing the initiative from events where commercial interests may influence content and participation. For women navigating careers in a field where they remain significantly outnumbered, such dedicated platforms offer both practical support and a visible demonstration that the industry recognises the need for change.