Here’s a situation that will sound familiar to any woman working in cybersecurity: You’re at a conference. You look around the room. Of the hundreds of attendees, you realize you’re one of the only women.



Here at ESET, we believe that diversity is key for the success of any great company and community, and that is why we are continuing our support of women in technology with the Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship again this year. The scholarship will be awarded to a female student who aspires to have a career in cybersecurity.



If you are not in the position to apply yourself, YOU CAN HELP! Chances are you know a female student that will want to apply, and perhaps be inspired to get into the field. So, Tweet this, email this, Facebook this, talk about this and lets work together to nurture the next generation of cyber defenders.



Why is this so important? For one, it’s been predicted that by the year 2020, the world will need 1.5 million more information security professionals. There are signs that this is starting to change—for proof, just watch this video featuring the girls who attended our Cyber Boot Camp 2015, which has gone from zero girls to 40 percent in just three years. Now it’s time to accelerate.



Second, balance is one of the most important factors in ESET’s health and continued success as a company. Women bring different perspectives, viewpoints and approaches to problem-solving to the table, in everyday meetings and in the board rooms. This diversity of perspectives is particularly critical for the future of technology, as ESET’s Sr. Security Researcher Stephen Cobb highlighted in his recent TEDx talk (see the “white male effect” starting at 8:19), as well as for the future of our workforce, as our security researcher Lysa Myers has written.



ESET is proud to support women in STEM-related fields and promote equality in every aspect of the human professional experience. We believe that diversity and equality will only serve to advance cybersecurity and cyber-adjacent industries.

REQUIRMENTS, DETAILS AND HOW TO APPLY

ESET will award a $5,000 scholarship to a female who is pursuing a college-level degree and aspires to have a career in cybersecurity.

How do I qualify for the scholarship?

You must be a female enrolled-in or accepted-to an accredited undergraduate or graduate program in the United States.

You must have a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA.

You must be a US citizen or permanent resident with a permanent resident ID card.

What is the deadline for submission?

Submissions are accepted from February 1, 2017 – March 15, 2017 at 11:59pm PST

What do I submit / How do I submit my application?

Applicants must include the following as attachments to US-scholarship@eset.com with a subject line of "Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship":

Application and complete essay questions (DOWNLOAD HERE)

A copy of an unofficial transcript or acceptance letter as proof of enrollment.

One letter of recommendation, signed by the recommending party.

Do I need to know anything else?

Essays may be submitted in English or Spanish.

Finalists must participate in a phone interview to be considered for the award.

Finalists may be required to supply additional personal or professional references.

Judging is conducted by a panel of ESET staff including cybersecurity experts.

Finalists may be asked to provide a photo of themselves, which may be used for promotional purposes.

Winner may be asked to join ESET in-person to receive the scholarship, with expenses paid by ESET. Ability to travel is not a requirement for the award.

The $5,000 award will be dispersed over the course of 2-years, with $2,500 the first year and $2,500 the second.

If the application or essays are illegible, it will not be considered.

Immediate family members or dependents of ESET employees are not eligible to participate.

What if I have more questions?

Please email us at US-scholarship@eset.com with any questions and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

When will you announce the winner?

The winner will be informed by April 15, 2017 and will be notified via email, and phone.