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.

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.

The Cultural Foundation of Information Security Behavior

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-41
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.

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.

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