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Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Creating opportunity for all – to learn, participate, and lead – is imperative to achieving a more diverse cybersecurity industry. SANS is dedicated to creating opportunity by providing more pathways to education, community, and careers. Contact our diversity team to learn more about our work and to join us in this mission: diversityinclusiontaskforce@sans.org.
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Women Lifting Women Livestream

This International Women’s Day, we aim to #BreaktheBias by celebrating sisterhood in cybersecurity! We can achieve true equity and belonging only by forging strong support systems. 


On March 8 we held a panel discussion moderated by Cheryl Conley with:

  • Jaya Baloo, CISO, Avast
  • Rachel Barnes, Technical Account Manager, Qualys
  • Talya C. Parker, Engineer - Privacy, Safety and Security, Google; Founder & Executive Director, Black Girls in Cyber
  • Janet Roberts, SVP, Global Head of Security Education and Awareness, Zurich Insurance Company Ltd.
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Featured Female Faculty

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Women's Immersion Academy

To help fill the skills gap, the SANS Institute created the SANS CyberTalent Immersion Academy, an intensive, accelerated training program that provides SANS world-class training and GIAC certifications to quickly and effectively launch careers in cybersecurity. SANS CyberTalent Immersion Academies are 100% scholarship-based and no cost to participants. To learn more, contact us at immersionacademy@sans.org. A United States Cyber Academy program.

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Resources for Women in Cybersecurity

Blog
Cybersecurity Insights
SANS + International Women's Day | Women Lifting Women
International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8, and the 2022 theme is #BreaktheBias. We join in International Women’s Day (and every day) by recognizing and amplifying the achievements and contributions of women to cybersecurity.  You can join our live-streamed panel discussion at 11 am EST on...
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Jennifer E Santiago (Moderator)
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Blog
Security Awareness
Resources for Women Getting Started in Cybersecurity
Earlier this week a friend of mine reached out to me, her sister had just graduated college and wanted to enter the cybersecurity field.
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Lance Spitzner
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Blog
Cybersecurity Insights
Women Influence in InfoSec Is on the Rise (and That's a Good Thing)
If ever there was a year for women in InfoSec, it is 2019. In May 2019 , when 125 women in IT security took their message to Washington during the third annual event coordinated by the EWF (Executive Women's Forum on Information Security, Risk Management & Privacy), I got to thinking: What...
Deb Radcliff
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Blog
Security Awareness
Cyber Heroines: African Women in Cyber Defense
Only 9% of cybersecurity professionals in Africa are women. The group African Women in Cyber Defense aims to change that.
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Jennifer E Santiago (Moderator)
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Newsletter
Cybersecurity and IT Essentials - Cybersecurity Fundamentals, Cybersecurity and IT Essentials - Cybersecurity Essentials, Cybersecurity and IT Essentials
Anyone Can Start a Career in Cybersecurity
Have you considered a career as a cybersecurity professional? It is a fast-paced, highly-dynamic field with a huge number of exciting specialties to choose from.
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    Our Diversity Efforts

    At SANS and GIAC, we believe that there is no place for racism or discrimination in our community or industry. We stand in solidarity with those who, like us, are committed to advancing equal opportunity for all. Below are a few of the ways in which we are working to making a measurable difference today:
    • Updating our courseware style guide: terms like Blacklist, Whitelist, and many others will be removed from SANS courseware and replaced with more appropriate terminology.
    • Consciously representing diversity in speaking events and instructor development: we are dedicated to better representing the overall community and striving to see more diversity in the industry.
    • Running multiple scholarship academies and offering job placement support for women, veterans, and minorities.
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    Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Statement and Non-Harassment Policy

    View Our Policy

    SANS Women in Cybersecurity Presentation

    Stephanie recently gave an important presentation at the SANS Women in Cybersecurity virtual event, where she spoke about approaching career development conversations with more self confidence.

    SANS BIPOC in Cybersecurity Event Presentation

    Security Policy expert and Attorney Camille Stewart recently spoke at the SANS BIPOC in Cybersecurity event about how to exude your personal, professional narrative.