A Cybersecurity Culture Research Philosophy and Approach to Develop a Valid and Reliable Measuring Instrument

Abstract

A cybersecurity culture must be promoted at an international, national, organizational, and individual level to aid in minimizing risks from a human perspective in cyberspace. To promote such a culture it has to be understood and quantified in order to direct change. This research makes use of the disciplines of information technology and industrial psychology to define a cybersecurity culture. A quantitative research methodology, cybersecurity culture research methodology (CSeCRM), is proposed that can be used to measure a cybersecurity culture. The objective of CSeCRM is to ensure that a reliable and valid measuring instrument is used to measure cybersecurity culture. The results derived from using such an instrument can aid in identifying actions to change and direct the cybersecurity culture at, for instance, schools or businesses, at national or international level. The CSeCRM is illustrated by implementing it in an organization where a cybersecurity culture measuring instrument was validated.