A Historical Timeline of Women in Technology & Cyber security

From the earliest theoretical foundations of computing to modern cyber security leadership, women have played a pivotal role in shaping the digital world. Their contributions span algorithm design, wartime cryptography, software engineering, and global cyber defence. This timeline highlights key milestones and the lasting impact of women in technology and cyber security. 

1843 – Ada Lovelace: The Beginnings of Modern Computing 

In 1843, Ada Lovelace wrote what is widely considered the first computer algorithm for Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine. More than a mathematician, she was a visionary who anticipated that machines could go beyond simple calculation. 

She famously observed: 

“The Analytical Engine weaves algebraic patterns just as the Jacquard loom weaves flowers and leaves.” 

Her insight foreshadowed modern computing, recognising that computers could manipulate symbols, not just numbers. Ada’s ability to see beyond our current capabilities is something we should take with us as we face the future of AI development and quantum computing. Security professionals must, like Ada think beyond our current capabilities and imagine what the future might look like.  

1910s–1930s – Women as Human “Computers” 

Long before electronic machines existed, women worked as mathematical “computers” in astronomy, physics, and engineering laboratories. They performed complex calculations by hand, supporting scientific discovery and industrial progress. Their often-overlooked labour laid critical groundwork for the computing revolution that followed. 

Precision and discipline matter. Cyber security often depends on detailed analysis log reviews, anomaly detection, risk assessments. The meticulous work of early analysts reminds us that security excellence is built on accuracy, patience, and foundational knowledge. 

1940 – Joan Clarke: Codebreaking & Early Electronic Computing 

Joan Elisabeth Lowther Murray, known professionally as Joan Clarke, was a British cryptanalyst and numismatist. During the Second World War, she worked at Bletchley Park, where she played a vital role in breaking encrypted German communications. 

Her contributions to cryptanalysis helped shorten the war and demonstrated the strategic importance of cryptography, an essential precursor to modern cyber security. Clarke’s work underscores that technology is not just technical, but it is vital for securing nations, infrastructures and economies. Having a trained and technical workforce has been vital to securing the UK historically and is just as vital to its future. 

1945 – The ENIAC Programmers 

At the close of World War II, technological innovation accelerated rapidly. Six pioneering women: Betty Snyder, Kathleen McNulty, Jean Jennings Bartik, Ruth Licherman, Frances Bilas, and Marlyn Wescoff, were tasked with programming the world’s first general-purpose, programmable, all-electronic computer: ENIAC. 

Working without manuals or programming languages, they developed methods to program the machine for complex ballistic calculations. Their achievements established the foundations of modern software programming.  

Like the ENIAC programmers, security teams build processes from scratch when necessary and embrace experimentation. 

1952 – Grace Hopper: Compilers & Programming Languages 

Grace Hopper contributed to the development of UNIVAC, one of the first all-electronic digital computers. She invented the first computer compiler, a tool that translates written instructions into machine-readable code. 

Her work led to the co-development of COBOL, one of the earliest standardised programming languages. COBOL enabled computers to respond to words as well as numbers, making computing more accessible to business and government. 

Hopper’s legacy reminds us that simplifying complexity can improve resilience and that clear programming standards, shared frameworks, and understandable systems reduce errors and vulnerabilities.  

1960s – Margaret Hamilton: Software Engineering & the Apollo Program 

Margaret Hamilton led the Software Engineering Division of the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory, which contracted with NASA in 1961 to develop the guidance system for the Apollo program. 

Her rigorous software design prevented mission failure during the Apollo 11 moon landing. Hamilton is widely credited with popularising the term “software engineering,” helping establish it as a respected scientific discipline. 

Hamilton’s defensive programming anticipated unexpected errors. Just as modern cyber security must assume breaches will happen. Resilience, detection, containment, and recovery are just as important as prevention. 

1960s–1980s Steve Shirley – Flexible Work & Software Innovation 

Dame Stephanie “Steve” Shirley founded F International in 1962, a pioneering software company that employed women many working from home at a time when the technology industry was heavily male dominated. Her company developed large-scale software systems and became a major technology contractor. 

Her model of flexible, remote technical work was decades ahead of its time. Inclusion drives innovation, with diverse and flexible teams we expand the talent pool and strengthen problem-solving capacity.  

1970s – Dorothy Denning: Foundations of Cyber security 

Dorothy Denning emerged as a foundational voice in computer security. Her work on intrusion detection systems, encryption, and information warfare helped shape cyber security as a formal academic discipline. 

1980s – Personal Computing Boom 

As personal computers entered homes. During this decade, cyber security began emerging in response to early computer viruses and network intrusions, setting the stage for future professional specialisation. 

2000s – Formalisation of Cybersecurity Careers 

Following the events of 2001, cyber security became a global national security priority. The field expanded rapidly across government, private industry, and academia. 

Pipeline initiatives also gained momentum. For example, Girls Who Code which was founded in 2012 to close the gender gap in technology education, symbolising broader efforts to build inclusive talent pathways. 

2010s – Parisa Tabriz: Leading security engineering at Google 

Parisa Tabriz became widely recognised for leading security engineering efforts at Google, helping protect products used by billions worldwide.  

Parisa’s work at Google serves as a clear example that as platforms and businesses grow to serve their customers, security must be embedded into design, development, and deployment.  

2021 – Jen Easterly: American National Cyber Defence 

In 2021, Jen Easterly became Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), overseeing civilian cyber defence in the United States. 

The history of technology and cyber security is deeply intertwined with the contributions of women often unrecognised, yet foundational. From Ada Lovelace’s theoretical insights to modern cyber defence leadership, women have not only participated in technological advancement but have shaped its direction. 

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, inclusive leadership and equitable representation remain central to building secure and innovative technological futures. 

 Awandja Ebhodaghe Cyber Security Analyst at Red Helix says: 

“Getting into the Cyber Security sector has been one of the best career decisions I’ve chosen to make. I would highly encourage more women to step into such roles. We often think we don’t belong in such spaces or wonder whether we’d be capable enough, but the truth is that many of the skills we naturally possess and the skills we’ve developed from previous careers often make us highly efficient in technical roles.  Moving forward, I would love to see a larger representation of women in the tech field and male dominated fields in general. I’m proud to be able to represent women in the CyberSec Ops world and I hope it encourages the younger generation of girls to see it as a viable career path.”

Marion Sterwart CEO at Red Helix says: 

“I want to champion diversity in the sector, in terms of social and economic backgrounds, neurodiversity and all the other diversity and inclusion factors that you can think of.”