Cybersecurity Readiness Research Articles

Cybersecurity in Tanzanian Maritime Operations: Exploring Global Best Practices and Their Local Adaptation Using the Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model (C2M2)

The increasing integration of digital technologies in maritime operations has significantly enhanced efficiency in cargo tracking, port management, and communication systems. However, this digital transformation also introduces substantial cybersecurity risks, particularly in developing regions like Tanzania, where technological infrastructure and specialized skills may lag behind global standards. This study evaluates the cybersecurity readiness of three key Tanzanian maritime organizations Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA), Tanzania Shipping Agency Corporation (TASAC), and SINOTASHIP using the Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model (C2M2). Through a detailed assessment across ten C2M2 domains, the study identifies existing strengths and critical gaps in areas such as risk management, asset management, and incident response. The findings reveal that while basic cybersecurity practices exist, they are largely reactive, with most domains scoring between Level 1 (Initial) and Level 3 (Defined). This lack of advanced, proactive measures poses significant risks to Tanzania's maritime infrastructure, particularly given the strategic role of ports like Dar es Salaam in regional trade. The study highlights the need for tailored improvements, including enhanced asset management, continuous workforce training, and real-time monitoring systems, to bridge the gap between global standards and local practices. By implementing these measures, Tanzanian maritime operations can strengthen their resilience against cyber threats, ensuring secure and efficient port operations in an increasingly interconnected world.

Ignorance is not bliss: A human-centered whole-of-enterprise approach to cybersecurity preparedness

The overwhelming nature of the cybersecurity challenge, further exacerbated by continuously growing attack surfaces and artificial intelligence-enabled attacks, often drives organizations into a state of learned helplessness when employees and their leaders realize that no amount of preparedness can guarantee immunity from cyber-attacks. This sense of inevitability demotivates organizational leadership from prioritizing cybersecurity readiness. Embracing the ‘ignorance is bliss’ mindset, very often, the message from the top is to do the bare minimum to achieve cybersecurity regulatory compliance. However, the consequences of not being willing to face the challenge head-on and going above and beyond the compliance checklist can be severe. In this paper, we shed light on a whole-of-enterprise approach that focuses on engaging and optimally utilizing the competencies of individual organizational members. This human factors-focused approach is based on the fundamental premise that cybersecurity readiness is everybody’s business, and organizations must find ways of galvanizing organization-wide support and commitment. Insights gained from in-depth interviews with business leaders and subject-matter experts reveal five characteristics of a human-centered whole-of-enterprise approach to cybersecurity preparedness: (1) Enlightened and engaged leadership; (2) Capitalizing on people’s best intentions and creativity; (3) Looking inwards before looking outwards; (4) Getting ownership, responsibility, and accountability right; and (5) Measuring the right thing, incentivizing the right behavior.

The Impact of Political Risks on Foreign Companies’ Market Entry Strategies in China

This study explores the challenges faced by multinational companies operating in China, focusing on political risks and entry challenges. The analysis is based on five established companies: IBM (China) Co., Maersk Logistics (China) Co., Ltd., Schneider Electric (China) Co., Ltd., 3M China Limited, and Marriott International (Greater China) Limited. The findings reveal high risks associated with government regulations, cultural differences, intellectual property protection, trade barriers, compliance requirements, and technology/cybersecurity. Political challenges during market entry include concerns about intellectual property theft, piracy, and cyber espionage. In response, a strategic plan is proposed to mitigate these challenges, emphasizing financial cooperation, cultural adaptation, intellectual property management, trade compliance, and cybersecurity readiness. The goals include enhancing corporate image, reducing disputes, increasing market share, and achieving leadership in compliance and cybersecurity. Conclusions highlight the strategic approaches adopted by the analyzed companies and the necessity for careful consideration of regulatory environments. Recommendations include building local partnerships, investing in research and development, implementing sustainability initiatives, and developing comprehensive compliance systems. The proposed strategies aim to help foreign companies navigate the complex Chinese market successfully.

효과적인 사이버보안 관리를 위한 통합 솔루션: Cisco 2024 사이버보안 준비 지수 분석을 통한 전략적 통찰 및 도전 과제 해결

효과적인 사이버보안 관리를 위한 통합 솔루션: Cisco 2024 사이버보안 준비 지수 분석을 통한 전략적 통찰 및 도전 과제 해결

The Digital Evolution Strategies for Overcoming Cybersecurity and Adoption Challenges in French SMEs

French Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) face a crucial juncture in their path towards digital transformation. They encounter notable obstacles in embracing digital technologies and bolstering cybersecurity measures. This integrative literature review examines the complex relationship between digitalization and cybersecurity, highlighting their importance for enterprises' ongoing competitiveness and operational security. The study is focused on two primary areas: the integration of digital technologies and the establishment of robust cybersecurity frameworks. This review thoroughly examines existing research to offer strategic insights for leaders of French SMEs and IT policymakers. It employs rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria, detailed data extraction, and comprehensive synthesis to ensure a systematic analysis. The findings emphasize the critical roles of organizational culture and innovation diffusion in shaping the adoption of technology and the implementation of security practices. The review puts forward practical suggestions to address the digital divide, strengthen cybersecurity readiness, and promote a digital environment accessible to all sectors of French SMEs. These recommendations focus on enhancing operational efficiency, minimizing expenses, and fortifying the security framework to bolster a solid national digital transformation. The study's conclusions highlight the significance of these findings for future research and practice, providing a thorough guide for incorporating digital transformation and cybersecurity in the context of French SMEs.

Adapting Businesses to the 6G Security Paradigm: Insights from Commerce 5.0

Within the context of Commerce 5.0, this study examines organizations' potential and difficulties when adjusting to the 6G security paradigm. The primary goals are to look into how 6G technology is developing, assess cybersecurity opportunities and problems, pinpoint strategic imperatives for business adaptation, investigate using Commerce 5.0 to gain a competitive edge, and look at upcoming trends and things business leaders should know. The approach used is a thorough analysis of the knowledge and insights from Commerce 5.0. Key findings point to the revolutionary potential of 6G technology for enterprises, new cybersecurity requirements, and strategic imperatives. The report emphasizes the significance of valuing ethics and cybersecurity readiness and embracing hyperconnectivity, customization, and innovation. The consequences of policy point to the need for infrastructure spending, cybersecurity best practices promotion, encouragement of innovation and teamwork, and the creation of regulatory frameworks for new technology. This study offers insightful information to industry stakeholders, legislators, and corporate executives trying to make sense of the intricacies of the 6G security paradigm while promoting innovation and expansion in the digital economy.

The Influence of Governmental Support on Cyber-Security Adoption and Performance

The accelerated cyberattacks presents a severe challenge to the companies, as they seem unprepared to confront the threat of cyberattacks, they will suffer enormous losses and have their performance suffer as a result. To better serve its population and communities, Kuwait will have improved and updated its national infrastructure by 2035. This study examines how the governmental top management support, cyber security readiness, and technology readiness affect employee's organizational security adoption intentions in Kuwait governmental organizations and realization of its benefits. The quantitative method was employed in this work. The study found that top management support influencing organizational security performance mediating by cyber security readiness and technology, which affects the tangible and intangible benefits. This study can help policy makers in governmental organizations to improve cyber security adoption. The findings of this study may be utilized for enhancing the sustainability of cyber security in governmental organizations in Kuwait.

Factors Affecting the Implementation of Cybersecurity in the Philippine Coast Guard

This study investigates the factors influencing the implementation of cybersecurity in the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to ensure national security and maritime safety. The research focused on policies, circulars, developmental plans, equipment, and human resources. A mixed-methods approach was used, collecting quantitative data through a survey of 90 MARSLEC personnel to assess their cybersecurity awareness and perceptions of current measures. Qualitative insights were obtained from in-depth interviews with deputy commanders of MARSLEC units. The results revealed key obstacles: unclear policies and circulars, limited budget and resources for cybersecurity equipment, and insufficient specialized training and skilled personnel. Despite these challenges, there was a strong commitment from PCG leadership to prioritize cybersecurity. Effective collaboration with other agencies and organizations was deemed crucial. The study recommended addressing these challenges by clarifying policies, optimizing resource allocation, and implementing continuous training and awareness programs. By improving cybersecurity readiness, the PCG could better safeguard national interests, maritime assets, and personnel against evolving cyber threats. These measures are essential for enhancing the PCG's cybersecurity posture and ensuring resilient maritime operations.

Global Cybersecurity Resilience: Advanced Strategies and Emerging Technologies for Protecting Critical Digital Infrastructure

Ensuring the protection of those strategic systems and networks from constantly emerging threats in the contemporary context of globalization is crucial to maintaining states’ security and economies. This paper focuses on how organizational cybersecurity readiness can be improved and ways of putting up good defense mechanisms. These are Threat Intelligence Systems including AI & ML Systems for detecting advanced threats as well as Endpoint Solutions including Endpoint Security and Networks that are fortified through Firewalls, VPN & Zero Trust Architecture. Pivotal to these activities are information protection measures such as encryption and Data Loss Prevention (DLP), to safeguard the confidentiality of the data. IAM solutions that incorporate MFA and RBAC also help reduce threats of unauthorized access by controlling user account privileges. That is why adherence to the national and international cybersecurity standards with the help of governmental directions and legal laws such as NIST or GDPR makes organizational security positions more stable. Currently, new technology solutions like Artificial Intelligence, Quantum computing, and Blockchain provide better threat analytical systems and enhanced encryption methods which are necessary for safeguarding main digital assets in today’s environment.

Securing the Network: A Red and Blue Cybersecurity Competition Case Study

In today’s dynamic and evolving digital landscape, safeguarding network infrastructure against cyber threats has become a paramount concern for organizations worldwide. This paper presents a novel and practical approach to enhancing cybersecurity readiness. The competition, designed as a simulated cyber battleground, involves a Red Team emulating attackers and a Blue Team defending against their orchestrated assaults. Over two days, multiple teams engage in strategic maneuvers to breach and fortify digital defenses. The core objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of the Red and Blue cybersecurity competition in fostering real-world incident response capabilities and honing the skills of cybersecurity practitioners. This paper delves into the competition’s structural framework, including the intricate network architecture and the roles of the participating teams. This study gauges the competition’s impact on enhancing teamwork and incident response strategies by analyzing participant performance data and outcomes. The findings underscore the significance of immersive training experiences in cultivating proactive cybersecurity mindsets. Participants not only showcase heightened proficiency in countering cyber threats but also develop a profound understanding of attacker methodologies. Furthermore, the competition fosters an environment of continuous learning and knowledge exchange, propelling participants toward heightened cyber resilience.

Digital Transformation and Cybersecurity Challenges for Businesses Resilience: Issues and Recommendations.

This systematic literature review explores the digital transformation (DT) and cybersecurity implications for achieving business resilience. DT involves transitioning organizational processes to IT solutions, which can result in significant changes across various aspects of an organization. However, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data and analytics, blockchain, and cloud computing drive digital transformation worldwide while increasing cybersecurity risks for businesses undergoing this process. This literature survey article highlights the importance of comprehensive knowledge of cybersecurity threats during DT implementation to prevent interruptions due to malicious activities or unauthorized access by attackers aiming at sensitive information alteration, destruction, or extortion from users. Cybersecurity is essential to DT as it protects digital assets from cyber threats. We conducted a systematic literature review using the PRISMA methodology in this research. Our literature review found that DT has increased efficiency and productivity but poses new challenges related to cybersecurity risks, such as data breaches and cyber-attacks. We conclude by discussing future vulnerabilities associated with DT implementation and provide recommendations on how organizations can mitigate these risks through effective cybersecurity measures. The paper recommends a staged cybersecurity readiness framework for business organizations to be prepared to pursue digital transformation.

Level of Cybersecurity Readiness of Small and Medium Nonprofit Organizations (NPOs) During COVID-19

Level of Cybersecurity Readiness of Small and Medium Nonprofit Organizations (NPOs) During COVID-19

Organizational cybersecurity readiness in the ICT sector: a quanti-qualitative assessment

PurposeCyberattacks are becoming increasingly widespread, and cybersecurity is therefore increasingly important. Although the technological aspects of cybersecurity are its best-known characteristics, the cybersecurity phenomenon goes beyond the detection of technological impacts, and encompasses all the dimensions of an organization. This study thus focusses on an additional set of organizational elements. The key elements of cybersecurity organizational readiness depicted here are cybersecurity awareness, cybersecurity culture and cybersecurity organizational resilience (OR). This study aims to qualitatively assess small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) overall level of organizational cybersecurity readiness.Design/methodology/approachThis study focused on conducting a cybersecurity organizational readiness assessment using a sample of 53 Italian SMEs from the information and communication technology sector. Informed mixed method research, this study was conducted consistent with the principles of the explanatory sequential mixed method design, and adopting a quanti-qualitative methodology. The quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire. Qualitative data were subsequently collected through semi-structured interviews.FindingsAlthough many elements of the technical aspects of cybersecurity OR have yielded very encouraging results, there are still some areas that require improvement. These include those facets that constitute the foundation of cybersecurity awareness, and, thus, a cybersecurity culture. This result highlights that the areas in need of improvement are exactly those that are most important in fighting against cyber threats via organizational cybersecurity readiness.Originality/valueAlthough the importance of SMEs is obvious, evidence of such organizations’ attitudes to cybersecurity are still limited. This research is an attempt to depict the organizational issue related to cybersecurity, i.e. overall cybersecurity organizational readiness.

Enhancing Cybersecurity Readiness Through the Red and Blue Team Competition

Enhancing Cybersecurity Readiness Through the Red and Blue Team Competition

A model for measuring multi‐concern assurance of critical infrastructure control systems

AbstractDigital transformation of engineering practice, paradigms, processes, and workforce engender agreement uncertainty among professionals, particularly in the critical industry control system field. Control systems are susceptible to cyber‐mediated changes that can uniquely affect the control of the physical world from data‐centric information systems. Change to the system can be introduced by any proposed or forced alteration that affects the acceptability, suitability, feasibility, or resiliency to perform its intended mission, either positively or negatively. The potential impact of the cybersecurity threat on control systems is difficult to quantify. Agreement among professionals about decision authority and Command and Control (C2) over this threat is even more challenging to quantify. Understanding what cybersecurity entails still needs to be widely understood by the critical infrastructure control system workforce, and the control system assets are not widely understood by the Information Technology (IT) workforce. This research introduces a model and methodology for measuring multi‐concern assurance through the statistical uncertainty analysis of Likert semantic differential scales. The model addresses agreement in priority, the lack of which means there might be competing aims, competing spending, and competing focus on different aspects of the cybersecurity governance or policy as examples. The outcome identifies where different types of professionals do not agree about cybersecurity readiness and best practices for critical infrastructure control systems.

An empirical investigation into organization cyber security readiness from the IT employee and manager perspectives

An empirical investigation into organization cyber security readiness from the IT employee and manager perspectives

An empirical investigation into organisation cyber security readiness from the IT employee and manager perspectives

An empirical investigation into organisation cyber security readiness from the IT employee and manager perspectives

CyberSecurity Readiness: A Model for SMEs based on the Socio-Technical Perspective

Like most companies, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have become reliant on digital technology for their day-to-day business operations. While valuable, this comes with challenges; one of which is the rise in cybercrime. In terms of their cybersecurity resilience and risk, SMEs are among the most vulnerable and least mature. This article addresses a gap in the literature that has neglected cybersecurity readiness in SMEs. The study proposes a CyberSecurity Readiness Model for SMEs (CSRM-SME) based on a Socio-Technical view of organizations. The model was applied to three SMEs to assess their cybersecurity readiness and further understand the environment and strategies adopted to prevent and manage cyber-attacks.

Cyber Security Readiness in Malawi

Cyber Security Readiness in Malawi

Assessing SMEs’ cybersecurity organizational readiness: Findings from an Italian survey

The Small and Medium-sized Enterprises’ (SMEs) level of organizational cybersecurity readiness has been poorly investigated to date. Currently, all SMEs need to maintain an adequate level of cybersecurity to run their businesses, not only those wishing to fully exploit digitalization’s benefits. Unfortunately, due to their lack of resources, skills, and their low level of cyber awareness, SMEs often seem unprepared. It is essential that they address the digital threats that they face by using technology and complementary (and not alternative) factors, such as guidelines, formal policies, and training. All these elements trigger development processes regarding skills, awareness, the organizational cybersecurity culture, and the organizational resilience. This paper describes Italy’s first multidisciplinary attempt to assess its SMEs’ overall cybersecurity readiness level. We used a survey as its initial quantitative assessment approach, although SMEs can also use it as a cyber self-assessment tool, which prepares them better to navigate the digital ecosystem. Thereafter, we held semi-structured interviews to explore the critical points that had emerged from the study’s first phase. The overall results show that SMEs have not yet achieved high levels of organizational readiness. SMEs are currently starting to set the stage for their organizational cyber readiness and will, therefore, have to take many more proactive steps to address their cyber challenges.