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A Descriptive Review and Classification of Organizational Information Security Awareness Research

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Information and Cyber Security (ISSA 2019)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 1166))

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Abstract

Information security awareness (ISA) is a vital component of information security in organizations. The purpose of this research is to descriptively review and classify the current body of knowledge on ISA. A sample of 59 peer-reviewed academic journal articles, which were published over the last decade from 2008 to 2018, were analyzed. Articles were classified using coding techniques from the grounded theory literature-review method. The results show that ISA research is evolving with behavioral research studies still being explored. Quantitative empirical research is the dominant methodology and the top three theories used are general deterrence theory, theory of planned behavior, and protection motivation theory. Future research could focus on qualitative approaches to provide greater depth of ISA understanding.

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Acknowledgements

This work is based on the research supported wholly/in part by the National Research Foundation of South Africa (Grant Numbers 114838).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    Gershon Hutchinson & Jacques Ophoff

  2. Abertay University, Dundee, UK

    Jacques Ophoff

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  1. Gershon Hutchinson
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Correspondence to Jacques Ophoff .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

    Hein Venter

  2. University of South Africa, Florida, Gauteng, South Africa

    Marianne Loock

  3. University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Gauteng, South Africa

    Marijke Coetzee

  4. University of South Africa, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

    Mariki Eloff

  5. University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

    Jan Eloff

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Hutchinson, G., Ophoff, J. (2020). A Descriptive Review and Classification of Organizational Information Security Awareness Research. In: Venter, H., Loock, M., Coetzee, M., Eloff, M., Eloff, J. (eds) Information and Cyber Security. ISSA 2019. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 1166. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43276-8_9

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