In a world where companies rely heavily on digitization and customers expect a seamless user experience, cybersecurity must be a priority. Customers instill trust in insurers and producers to safeguard personal financial and health information, which is collected and stored as part of the underwriting and claims processes. Prioritizing cybersecurity helps keep sensitive information protected and means people across the chain are equipped to handle it with the utmost integrity. As stringent cybersecurity programs become more and more critical, the demand for diverse experts, especially skilled females, is increasing. Historically, there has been a shortage of females in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), who make up nearly half of the U.S. workforce but only 27% of the STEM field. There is immense value for women to embark on a career in cybersecurity. While one must be technical and have excellent communication and analytical skills, one can be something other than an engineer to excel in cybersecurity. There are also routes where soft skills can be acquired. Confidence is a significant attribute that helps women accelerate their careers and having a professional mentor can facilitate that. Mentorship can be sourced one-on-one or in public forums and virtual groups where like-minded individuals bounce ideas off and support one another. The financial services industry, which includes insurance, is heavily targeted by cybercriminals. Therefore, insurers must constantly seek new means and talent to help protect themselves and their customers. As companies seek ways to diversify, it is crucial to bring talent with different perspectives and life experiences. Cybersecurity is based on helping and protecting individuals and businesses regardless of background, yet it remains particularly challenging for females to break into. Companies will find that they need dynamic individuals who focus solely on cybersecurity as the digital landscape evolves. There is a demand for women's flexible thinking and diverse approaches to handling complex topics in this fast-growing field. In the slide show above, the authors share their insights on the career opportunities working in cybersecurity provides. Yosra Barbier is the Director, Information Security at Duck Creek Technologies. Monica Frazier is the Sr. Associate Security Operations Engineer, and Michaela James is the Information Security Risk & Compliance Analyst. Related: How women insurance leaders can topple the gender gap Stranger danger: Keys to avoiding scams & cyber missteps Building an insurance business (and career) by focusing on people