The Acronis 2025 Women in Tech Report has uncovered gender gap perceptions in career development and leadership opportunities in the cybersecurity sector, where over two-thirds of women believe they must work longer hours to advance in their careers, compared with 56% of men who think the same.
Among the key findings, the report found that only 60% of women believe men and woman have equal access to career development and growth, compared to 75% of men. Work-life balance offers a similar story when it comes to perceptions, with 63% of women saying work-life balances challenges significantly impact career progression for women, while only 49% of men agree.
The 2025 survey of 650 global IT professionals highlights a consistent perception gap between men and women on the state of career opportunities in technology. While men generally view the industry as more equitable, women report significant barriers tied to bias, work-life balance, and leadership opportunities.
Other key findings include:
- Bias in the workplace: 41% of women vs. 33% of men cite bias and stereotypes as the main barrier to women starting cybersecurity careers.
- Leadership challenges: 41% of women vs. 36% of men identify bias as the biggest barrier to women pursuing leadership roles in tech.
- Leadership opportunities: 70% of women prioritize leadership development programs tailored to women vs 56% of men.
- FOMO at work: 52% of women are very or extremely concerned about missing career opportunities due to family responsibilities, compared to 42% of men.
European respondents showed particularly strong awareness of gender bias as a barrier to women’s participation in IT. The United Kingdom stands out most dramatically, with 46% of respondents citing gender bias and stereotypes as the primary reason women are discouraged from cybersecurity careers. This compares to 33% in the United States.
“Our new survey findings shine a spotlight on just how differently men and women experience working in the tech industry,” said Alona Geckler, SVP Business Operations and Chief of Staff at Acronis. “Closing the gender gap requires more than good intentions. Organisations must recognise these disparities and design programs that expand leadership opportunities, confront bias head-on, and create environments where work-life balance doesn’t present any barriers that may potentially derail women’s careers.”
Despite progress, inequities remain deeply embedded in workplace culture, particularly in technology fields. Women see greater value in targeted initiatives such as leadership development and advocacy, while men tend to underestimate the weight of systemic barriers. These contrasting perspectives not only reveal where organisations are falling short but also point to clear opportunities for companies to close gaps, strengthen inclusivity, and unlock the full potential of their workforce to build more inclusive workplaces that fully leverage diverse talent.
“This report highlights the critical need for companies to listen more closely to women’s experiences in technology career paths,” said Melyssa Banda, Senior Vice President, Edge Storage and Services at Seagate Technology. “For companies across the tech sector, highlighting women role models, addressing bias directly, and fostering inclusive cultures can benefit the entire industry. The opportunity now is to turn these insights into action that can drive innovation and create a workplace where everyone can thrive.”
The “FOMO at Work: The Opportunity Gap Between Men and Women in Tech” report is based on a global survey of more than 650 IT professionals across eight countries – the U.S., U.K., Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Italy, Singapore, and Japan. Women represent just 29% of the global tech workforce, a figure mirrored in the survey’s methodology to ensure accuracy and relevance.
To view the full report, visit: https://www.acronis.com/en/resource-center/resource/fomo-at-work-the-opportunity-gap-between-men-and-women-in-tech/
