Establishing information security policy compliance culture in organizations

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 420-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Amankwa ◽  
Marianne Loock ◽  
Elmarie Kritzinger
Keyword(s):  
Information Security ◽  
Security Policy ◽  
User Involvement ◽  
Research Model ◽  
End User ◽  
Policy Compliance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Behavioural Intentions ◽  
End User Involvement ◽  
Security Policy Compliance

Purpose This paper aims to establish that employees’ non-compliance with information security policy (ISP) could be addressed by nurturing ISP compliance culture through the promotion of factors such as supportive organizational culture, end-user involvement and compliance leadership to influence employees’ attitudes and behaviour intentions towards ISP in organizations. This paper also aims to develop a testable research model that might be useful for future researchers in predicting employees’ behavioural intentions. Design/methodology/approach In view of the study’s aim, a research model to show how three key constructs can influence the attitudes and behaviours of employees towards the establishment of security policy compliance culture (ISPCC) was developed and validated in an empirical field survey. Findings The study found that factors such as supportive organizational culture and end-user involvement significantly influenced employees’ attitudes towards compliance with ISP. However, leadership showed the weakest influence on attitudes towards compliance. The overall results showed that employees’ attitudes and behavioural intentions towards ISP compliance together influenced the establishment of ISPCC for ISP compliance in organizations. Practical implications Organizations should influence employees’ attitudes towards compliance with ISP by providing effective ISP leadership, encouraging end-user involvement during the draft and update of ISP and nurturing a culture that is conducive for ISP compliance. Originality/value The study provides some insights on how to effectively address the problem of non-compliance with ISP in organizations through the establishment of ISPCC, which has not been considered in any past research.

scholarly journals The effect of perceived organizational culture on employees’ information security compliance

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Karlsson ◽  
Fredrik Karlsson ◽  
Joachim Åström ◽  
Thomas Denk
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Information Security ◽  
Security Policy ◽  
Organizational Cultures ◽  
Policy Compliance ◽  
Information Security Policy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Security Compliance ◽  
Information Security Policy Compliance ◽  
Security Policy Compliance

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the connection between different perceived organizational cultures and information security policy compliance among white-collar workers. Design/methodology/approach The survey using the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument was sent to white-collar workers in Sweden (n = 674), asking about compliance with information security policies. The survey instrument is an operationalization of the Competing Values Framework that distinguishes between four different types of organizational culture: clan, adhocracy, market and bureaucracy. Findings The results indicate that organizational cultures with an internal focus are positively related to employees’ information security policy compliance. Differences in organizational culture with regards to control and flexibility seem to have less effect. The analysis shows that a bureaucratic form of organizational culture is most fruitful for fostering employees’ information security policy compliance. Research limitations/implications The results suggest that differences in organizational culture are important for employees’ information security policy compliance. This justifies further investigating the mechanisms linking organizational culture to information security compliance. Practical implications Practitioners should be aware that the different organizational cultures do matter for employees’ information security compliance. In businesses and the public sector, the authors see a development toward customer orientation and marketization, i.e. the opposite an internal focus, that may have negative ramifications for the information security of organizations. Originality/value Few information security policy compliance studies exist on the consequences of different organizational/information cultures.

Variables influencing information security policy compliance

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teodor Sommestad ◽  
Jonas Hallberg ◽  
Kristoffer Lundholm ◽  
Johan Bengtsson
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Information Security ◽  
Security Policy ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Security Policies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Policy Compliance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Security Policy Compliance ◽  
Security Policy Compliance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify variables that influence compliance with information security policies of organizations and to identify how important these variables are. Design/methodology/approach – A systematic review of empirical studies described in extant literature is performed. This review found 29 studies meeting its inclusion criterion. The investigated variables in these studies and the effect size reported for them were extracted and analysed. Findings – In the 29 studies, more than 60 variables have been studied in relation to security policy compliance and incompliance. Unfortunately, no clear winners can be found among the variables or the theories they are drawn from. Each of the variables only explains a small part of the variation in people's behaviour and when a variable has been investigated in multiple studies the findings often show a considerable variation. Research limitations/implications – It is possible that the disparate findings of the reviewed studies can be explained by the sampling methods used in the studies, the treatment/control of extraneous variables and interplay between variables. These aspects ought to be addressed in future research efforts. Practical implications – For decision makers who seek guidance on how to best achieve compliance with their information security policies should recognize that a large number of variables probably influence employees' compliance. In addition, both their influence strength and interplay are uncertain and largely unknown. Originality/value – This is the first systematic review of research on variables that influence compliance with information security policies of organizations.

The role of internal audit and user training in information security policy compliance

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 410-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Stafford ◽  
George Deitz ◽  
Yaojie Li
Keyword(s):  
Information Security ◽  
Security Policy ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Policy Compliance ◽  
Information Security Policy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Security Policy Compliance ◽  
Security Policy Compliance ◽  
Role Of Information

Purpose The purpose of the study is to investigate the role of information security policy compliance and the role of information systems auditing in identifying non-compliance in the workplace, with specific focus on the role of non-malicious insiders who unknowingly or innocuously thwart corporate information security (IS) directives by engaging in unsafe computing practices. The ameliorative effects of auditor-identified training and motivational programs to emphasize pro-security behaviors are explored. Design/methodology/approach This study applies qualitative case analysis of technology user security perceptions combined with interpretive analysis of depth interviews with auditors to examine and explain the rubrics of non-malicious technology user behaviors in violation of cybersecurity directives, to determine the ways in which auditors can best assist management in overcoming the problems associated with security complacency among users. Findings Enterprise risk management benefits from audits that identify technology users who either feel invulnerable to cyber threats and exploits or feel that workplace exigencies augur for expedient workarounds of formal cybersecurity policies. Research limitations/implications Implications for consideration of CyberComplacency and Cybersecurity Loafing expand the insider threat perspective beyond the traditional malicious insider perspective. Practical implications Implications for consideration of CyberComplacency and Cybersecurity Loafing include broadened perspectives for the consultative role of IS audit in the firm. Social implications CyberComplacency is a practice that has great potential for harm in all walks of life. A better understanding of these potential harms is beneficial. Originality/value This study is the first to characterize CyberComplacency as computer users who feel they operate invulnerable platforms and are subsequently motivated to engage in less cybersecurity diligence than the company would desire. This study is also the first to characterize the notion of Cybersecurity Loafing to describe technically competent workers who take unauthorized but expedient steps around certain security polices in the name of workgroup efficiency.

The sufficiency of the theory of planned behavior for explaining information security policy compliance

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teodor Sommestad ◽  
Henrik Karlzén ◽  
Jonas Hallberg
Keyword(s):  
Information Security ◽  
Security Policy ◽  
Protection Motivation Theory ◽  
Motivation Theory ◽  
Anticipated Regret ◽  
Policy Compliance ◽  
Information Security Policy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Security Policy Compliance ◽  
Security Policy Compliance

Purpose – This paper aims to challenge the assumption that the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) includes all constructs that explain information security policy compliance and investigates if anticipated regret or constructs from the protection motivation theory add explanatory power. The TPB is an established theory that has been found to predict compliance with information security policies well. Design/methodology/approach – Responses from 306 respondents at a research organization were collected using a questionnaire-based survey. Extensions in terms of anticipated regret and constructs drawn from the protection motivation theory are tested using hierarchical regression analysis. Findings – Adding anticipated regret and the threat appraisal process results in improvements of the predictions of intentions. The improvements are of sufficient magnitude to warrant adjustments of the model of the TPB when it is used in the area of information security policy compliance. Originality/value – This study is the first test of anticipated regret as a predictor of information security policy compliance and the first to assess its influence in relation to the TPB and the protection motivation theory.

The role of norms in information security policy compliance

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 743-761
Author(s):  
Isaac Wiafe ◽  
Felix Nti Koranteng ◽  
Abigail Wiafe ◽  
Emmanuel Nyarko Obeng ◽  
Winfred Yaokumah
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Information Security ◽  
Security Policy ◽  
System Security ◽  
Policy Compliance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information System Security ◽  
Personal Norms ◽  
Security Policy Compliance

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine which factors influence information system security policy compliance. It examines how different norms influence compliance intention. Design/methodology/approach Based on relevant literature on information system security policy compliance, a research model was developed and validated. An online questionnaire was used to gather data from respondents and partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyse 432 responses received. Findings The results indicated that attitude towards information security compliance mediates the effects of personal norms on compliance intention. In addition, descriptive and subjective norms are significant predictors of personal norms. Originality/value Though advancement in technology has reached significant heights, it is still inadequate to guaranteed information systems’ security. Researchers have identified humans to be central in ensuring information security. To this effect, this study provides empirical evidence of the role of norms in influence information security behaviour.

Information security policy compliance: a higher education case study

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khaled A. Alshare ◽  
Peggy L. Lane ◽  
Michael R. Lane
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Information Security ◽  
Security Policy ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Research Model ◽  
Security Measures ◽  
Timely Manner ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this case study is to examine the factors that impact higher education employees’ violations of information security policy by developing a research model based on grounded theories such as deterrence theory, neutralization theory and justice theory. Design/methodology/approach The research model was tested using 195 usable responses. After conducting model validation, the hypotheses were tested using multiple linear regression. Findings The results of the study revealed that procedural justice, distributive justice, severity and celerity of sanction, privacy, responsibility and organizational security culture were significant predictors of violations of information security measures. Only interactional justice was not significant. Research limitations/implications As with any exploratory case study, this research has limitations such as the self-reported information and the method of measuring the violation of information security measures. The method of measuring information security violations has been a challenge for researchers. Of course, the best method is to capture the actual behavior. Another limitation to this case study which might have affected the results is the significant number of faculty members in the respondent pool. The shared governance culture of faculty members on a US university campus might bias the results more than in a company environment. Caution should be applied when generalizing the results of this case study. Practical implications The findings validate past research and should encourage managers to ensure employees are involved with developing and implementing information security measures. Additionally, the information security measures should be applied consistently and in a timely manner. Past research has focused more on the certainty and severity of sanctions and not as much on the celerity or swiftness of applying sanctions. The results of this research indicate there is a need to be timely (swift) in applying sanctions. The importance of information security should be grounded in company culture. Employees should have a strong sense of treating company data as they would want their own data to be treated. Social implications Engaging employees in developing and implementing information security measures will reduce employees’ violations. Additionally, giving employees the assurance that all are given the same treatment when it comes to applying sanctions will reduce the violations. Originality/value Setting and enforcing in a timely manner a solid sanction system will help in preventing information security violations. Moreover, creating a culture that fosters information security will help in positively affecting the employees’ perceptions toward privacy and responsibility, which in turn, impacts information security violations. This case study applies some existing theories in the context of the US higher education environment. The results of this case study contributed to the extension of existing theories by including new factors, on one hand, and confirming previous findings, on the other hand.

The Cultural Foundation of Information Security Behavior

2021 ◽  
pp. 522-545
Author(s):  
Canchu Lin ◽  
Anand S. Kunnathur ◽  
Long Li
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Information Security ◽  
Security Policy ◽  
Behavior Control ◽  
Policy Compliance ◽  
Information Security Policy ◽  
Information Security Behavior ◽  
Security Behavior ◽  
Information Security Policy Compliance ◽  
Security Policy Compliance

Past behavior research overwhelmingly focused on information security policy compliance and under explored the role of organizational context in shaping information security behaviors. To address this research gap, this study integrated two threads of literature: organizational culture, and information security behavior control, and proposed a framework that integrates mid-range theories used in empirical research, connects them to organizational culture, and predicts its role in information security behavior control. Consistent with the cultural-fit perspective, this framework shows that information security policy compliance fits hierarchical culture and the approach of promoting positive, proactive, and emerging information security behaviors fits participative culture. Contributions and practical implications of this framework, together with future research directions, are discussed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document