25 WOMEN IN CYBER

Caroline Cameron

Director of Joint Defense Cloud Program, Department of National Defence, Canada

Cyberattacks are the number one business risk in most of the world, according to a 2022 study from the World Economic Forum. Not all cyber threats are alike, and diverse problems require diverse solutions. Yet, the cyber industry is predominantly led by men. How can we solve this significant threat to the business world with only half of the population? Fortunately, the women who make up that percentage are some of the fiercest in the greater technology industry. In this series, The Female Quotient and Deloitte are putting a spotlight on 25 women at the forefront of the cyber revolution, amplifying their career advice and sharing their insights on how the industry will evolve in the future. Their stories are proof that behind every functioning society is a woman in cyber.

What does a typical day of work look like for you?

My role spans technical and business functions. On a typical day, it’s not uncommon to move from a session on secure cloud to ground connectivity to a talk about upskilling strategy. My current role has me working closely with my colleagues since we deliver most solutions through an integrated team approach. Throughout the day, there will be team chats and messages to ensure everyone is on the same page.

What's a common misconception about women in cyber you'd like to debunk?

That cybersecurity is not for women.

What aspects of your career journey have taken you by surprise?

Every experience is like a puzzle piece necessary to navigate. Knowledge in one topic can become complimentary in other realms. Cybersecurity is all about having a view of the full ecosystem.

What's your superpower as a woman in cyber?

Problem solving, I like to make sure we think inside and outside the box.

What's the most challenging component of your job today?

Implementing a secure cloud for a defense organization is more of an organizational culture shift than a technology initiative. I keep the user experience at the heart of every decision and focus on raising awareness to facilitate our efforts.

Tell us about the cyber project you're most proud of working on in your career.

Working on the Security Review Program enabled me to build a program that provided the foundations for Supply Chain Security to the Canadian telecommunication landscape. Not only did I learn immensely about telecommunication technology, but the relationships I built in that program helped me achieve success.

What's one must read, watch or listen for women wanting to work in cyber?

Alice and Bob Learn Application Security is a great digital resource, as well as the “Cybersecurity Today” podcast and “Arctic Wolf” blog. On Twitter: @cybercentre_ca, @drjessicabarker, @lisaforterUK, @swiftonsecurity.

How has public perception of cybersecurity changed over the course of your career, and how do you predict in the future?

Previously, cybersecurity was done in the background. These days, cybersecurity is a mainstay on the C-suite agenda. In the future, cybersecurity will truly become a multidisciplinary discipline, where the ecosystem will feed into the definition of the landscape. Since it touches everything, it will involve everyone.

What's one piece of advice you'd give your younger self about getting started in cyber?

Just be yourself.

Who are some women working in cyber today that you admire?

Po Tea-Duncan, Olivera Zatezalo, Sophie Martel. I could go on…..