Security Efforts Research Articles

Digital Substations and IEC 61850: A Primer

Modern electrical substations are managed by intelligent electronic devices communicating through Ethernet-based networks. Because of the highly critical roles of substations, which include safety and protection, electronic devices need to be configured automatically through highly reliable and low-latency networks. This gives substation networks some requirements not addressed by previous industrial network standards. To address these unique challenges, IEC 61850 provides a collection of protocols and a model for the automatic configuration of digital substations. This article briefly overviews this standard and the security efforts to protect substations from attacks.

Utilization of biomass for energy conservation in agricultural usage

Ensuring food security is a crucial sustainable development goal in developing countries such as India. One of the major challenges is affordable storage infrastructure for food preservation. The high cost of storage facilities is due to expensive insulating materials. In this study, we explored the potential of agricultural biomass, which is often burned, as a low-cost sustainable insulating material for energy conservation in cold storage technologies. We investigated the efficacy of biomass as a heat insulating medium and compared its transmission losses with conventional polyurethane foam (PUF). The biomass characterization results showed that the thermal conductivity of paddy straw biomass was 0.0670 W/m°C, with the lowest conductivity observed for 1–2 mm sized biomass particles. By demonstrating the potential of agricultural biomass as an affordable and sustainable insulating material, this study contributes to the development of cost-effective storage solutions, ultimately benefiting farmers and supporting food security efforts in developing countries.

The two faces of Janus: educational pathways into and out of violent extremism in Norway

ABSTRACT The prevention of violent extremism in education has given rise to considerable policy debates in Norway. A key feature of this, illustrated in the growing stream of curricular and security policy reforms, is that these debates risk being disconnected from graspable elements in the social lives of young people. Using qualitative document analysis (QDA), this study analysis educational efforts to prevent violent extremism in Norway. The analysis suggests that interventions are structured according to reductionist thinking of cause and effect in which the individual is at the receiving end of security efforts. In particular, the dominant mode of preventing extremism is through therapeutic strategies aimed at helping vulnerable individuals becoming resilient to extreme ideologies and to help them respond to structural grievances. There is less attention on the role of social mechanisms including the reciprocal interplay between structural, social and individual factors in the analysed projects. Based on these findings, the study suggests the importance of exploring social processes in which extremism is engaged and resisted. Furthermore, it is argued that social movement theory (SMT) offers a promising way to understand the role of social processes in pathways into and out of extremism.

Tension between the safe flow of government data across organizational boundaries and fragmentations in secure collaboration: the Chinese e-government

PurposeThe study focuses on influential factors of collaboration on government data security by the Chinese government.Design/methodology/approachThe article explores the case of e-government in the Chinese centralized unitary state system context, using a structured–pragmatic–situational (SPS) approach and the boundary theory as an analytical lens.FindingsThe findings indicate that e-government operates in highly interconnected environments where the safe flow of government data requires collaborative and cross-boundary strategies. Any organization is a potential “weakest link”. In addition, collaboration is fragmented by ambiguous accountability and organizational inertia across government departments, resources differences and limited visibility and measurability of security efforts across government levels and conflicts and uncertainties in principal–agent relationships. The solutions for those obstacles are also discussed from the multi-function, multi-level and multi-actor dimensions, respectively. A multi-dimensional overarching security model for the flow of government data is proposed.Originality/valueThe study advances the technology-oriented micro-analysis of previous studies on government data security to cross-organizational revealing at the macrolevel by connecting streams of research in information systems and public administration. These findings will contribute to making the safe flow of government data more resilient in the transformation of e-government.

Forest Security Appraisal of Community Management Interventions Against Threats of Forest Commons at Offinso North District in Ghana

The paper examines the viability of community forestry and how community participation affects the effectivenessof forest resource security and management. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques with stakeholders’observations and perceptions of managers’ responses to major threats of forest commons were employed in thisstudy. The paper establishes forest security through comparative analysis and discourse of solely governmentmanagement intervention, solely community (private) management intervention and government-communitypartnership for forest management arrangements which are occurring in the Offinso Forest District of Ghana.The paper concludes that, community involvement in forest management interventions delivers better protectionof forest commons; and the extent and autonomy of local community to participate actively in forest resourcemanagement significantly influences resilience against threats of forest commons. Hence, stronger communityparticipation enhances the effectiveness of forest security efforts. Nevertheless, viability of communityparticipation to deliver effective forest resource security is influenced by adequacy of resources in support ofcommunity forestry, empowerment and sense of ownership of communities for forest common management.

Communication Evaluation in the Maritime Security Policy in the Nias Archipelago Waters

The Nias Islands are an area that is included in the Province of North Sumatra. Nias is an archipelago area surrounded by the Indonesian Ocean. The location of the Nias Islands which are on the border increases the risk of maritime threats that might occur in the Nias Islands. The research problem is how to evaluate communication in maritime security policies in the waters of the Nias Islands. The communication factor in policy implementation includes how to communicate the implementation of maritime security between agencies in maritime security in the territorial waters of the Nias Islands. This study aims to find out how the implementation of policies and efforts in maritime security in the waters of the Nias Islands, by analyzing communication in maritime security in the territorial waters of the Nias Islands. The research uses qualitative methods by collecting data through interviews, field observations and literature studies. The results of this study were processed using the Atlas.ti application. The results of the research show that there is synergy between government agencies in charge of maritime security in the Nias Islands, but there is a need to improve communication between these agencies. This form of communication is not only carried out to carry out maritime security in the territorial waters of the Nias Islands, but also aims to carry out monitoring of marine and fishery resources. Conducting sea patrols is an activity in the form of joint communication or coordination between agencies/institutions as well as a form of implementation of RI Minister of Defense No. 13 of 2014 concerning border area security policies. Communication is the key to creating synergy between ministries/agencies so that maritime security in the waters of the Nias Islands will run effectively and create a safe maritime environment. Evaluation of communication in maritime security policies in the waters of the Nias Islands shows that there are still communication limitations that cause operational constraints.

Territorial Development Function for the Successful Assignment of TNI AD Soldiers at the Border (Study on the Border of West Kalimantan and NTT)

TNI law number 34 of 2004 states that one of the TNI's duties is to carry out border security duties. As an elaboration of Law number 34, the TNI Commander issued a policy regarding the implementation of operations, especially border area security operations through the Commander's Regulation (Perpang) number 12 July 2007. The dynamics in the field show that the number of border security unit personnel is still lacking in the face of the vastness of the territory. what they have to protect. For this reason, it is necessary for them to involve the community in participating in border security efforts. The involvement of border communities is very important in supporting the success of the task. In maintaining good relations between the TNI AD and the people, the territorial function which is the function of the TNI AD is the right means. Soldiers must carry out territorial training (Binter) to achieve the unity of the Indonesian Army and the people in order to create security and order in their assigned area. One of the functions of Binter studied was the implementation of territorial attitudes. Writing refers to territorial research in the Badau area, namely the border of West Kalimantan with Malaysia and Motaain on the border of East Nusa Tenggara and Timor Leste. The conclusion from the analysis of the existing data shows that there is a significant influence on the Binter function in this case the territorial attitude on the success of the task where the implementation of the territorial attitude is the gateway to the success of territorial development activities in the assignment area in the framework of border security.

From food access to food sovereignty: Striving to meet university student needs

The ongoing neoliberalization of higher education has meant that college and university students at state institutions face declining state support for their education, increasing debt, precarious post-graduation job opportunities, and a dominant cul­tural emphasis on personal responsibility rather than collective care. These neoliberal conditions exacerbate structural inequities (along various axes, including race, economic status, disability, etc.) within student populations. This paper explores two aspects of inequity in food insecurity among students: specific challenges and inequities students face by virtue of their position as college students, and intersectional inequities faced by some stu­dents by virtue of other identities to which they belong. This paper presents findings from two research efforts at Western Washington University, a public university in the USA Pacific Northwest. First, we share findings from a 2018 qualitative, interview-based study of food-insecure students on the campus. We then draw from our experiences as practitioners and present critical reflections on our own campus food security efforts, differentiating between those that address food security (access), food justice, and food sovereignty. Our findings from the qualitative study suggest that students feel a sense of personal responsibility for their food insecurity, and that food-insecure students both rely on social networks for support and feel stigma­tized by their food insecurity. Our critical reflec­tions on campus programs reveal that most of the traditional food security efforts (e.g. emergency aid, food pantries) neglect to either effectively support BIPOC students and others most affected by food insecurity, or provide a sustained community-support mechanism for food-insecure students in general. We position food sovereignty-oriented programs as a way forward in addressing the inter­sectional inequities faced by students, and also in bolstering communities of support.

Service, Scholarship, and Sacrifice: A Qualitative Analysis of Food Security Barriers and Strategies among Military-Connected Students.

In the United States, 41% of 4-year university student veterans have reported food insecurity, but literature on food insecurity among military-connected students is limited. The objective of the study was to increase knowledge of military-connected student food insecurity experiences and potential strategies to address food access. The study is a cross-sectional survey and nonexperimental qualitative cohort analysis. Military-connected students (n= 127) responded to a survey sampling all enrolled students at a Mountain West land grant university during spring 2020. Military-connected student focus group participants (n= 8) were purposively sampled from the same university during fall2020. Main outcome measures were demographic data and food insecurity rates. Qualitative measures included responses to questions about food insecurity among military-connected students, actions for improving food insecurity, and insight into food access resources on campus. Descriptive statistics were used to determine food insecurity rates. Qualitative analysis included audio recording and transcription, then a step-by-step process for coding and theme development. Food insecurity was reported by 42.5% of military-connected student survey respondents. Qualitative analysis revealed themes about current and planned food access resources, barriers to food security, and strategies to promote military-connected student food security. Main themes related to resources were access to resources and food offerings. Main barrier themes were pride and shame. Main strategy themes included military pride and military connections and culture. Military-connected students are at least as vulnerable to food insecurity as the student body at large. Qualitative analysis identified barriers and strategies for food security among military-connected students. Feelings of pride in identifying with the military seemed to amplify feelings of shame about food insecurity; however, this pride and sense of military community also suggest that food security efforts specifically tailored to military-connected students could be successful.

How Suboptimal is Work-From-Home Security in IT/ICS Enterprises? A Strategic Organizational Theory for Managers

The COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., especially the first and second COVID waves) had forced firms (organizations) to radically shift a considerable (if not all) proportion of their employees to serve in a work-from-home (WFH) mode. Industry statistics showcase that despite ushering in significant work-flexibility (and other) benefits, the WFH mode has also expanded an organization’s cyber-vulnerability space, and increased the number of cyber-breaches in IT and IT-OT systems (e.g., ICSs). This leads us to an important fundamental question: is the WFH paradigm detrimental to IT and IoT-driven ICS security in general? While vulnerability reasoning and empirical statistics might qualitatively support an affirmative answer to this question, a rigorous, practically motivated, and strategic cost-benefit analysis is yet to be conducted to establish in principle whether and to what degree WFH-induced cyber-security in an IT/ICS system is sub-optimal when compared to that in the non-WFH work mode. We propose a novel and rigorous strategic method to dynamically quantify the degree of sub-optimal cyber-security in an IT/ICS organization of employees, all of whom work in heterogeneous WFH “siloes”. We first derive as benchmark for a WFH setting - the centrally-planned socially optimal aggregate employee effort in cyber-security best practices at any given time instant. We then derive and compute (using Breton’s Nash equilibrium computation algorithm for stochastic dynamic games) for for the same setting - the distributed time-varying strategic Nash equilibrium amount of aggregate employee effort in cyber-security. The time-varying ratios of these centralized and distributed estimates quantify the free riding dynamics, i.e., a proxy concept for security sub-optimality, within an IT/ICS organization for the WFH setting. We finally compare the free-riding ratio between WFH and non-WFH work modes to gauge the (possible) extent of the increase (lower bound) in security sub-optimality when the organization operates in a WFH mode. We counter-intuitively observe through extensive real-world-trace-driven Monte Carlo simulations that the maximum of the time-dependent median increase in the related security sub-optimality ranges around 25% but decreases fast with time to near 0% (implying security sub-optimality in the WFH mode equals that in the non-WFH mode) if the impact of employee security effort is time-accumulative (sustainable) even for short time intervals.

Effect of foreign direct investment on wage inequalities between skilled and unskilled workers in Vietnam

Foreign direct investment (FDI) can bring many benefits to the host country's economy, but not all citizens in that country benefit equally. This study aimed to analyze the impact of FDI on wage inequality between skilled and unskilled workers in Vietnam. The study used an econometric model, applying systematic generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation to panel data from 63 Vietnamese provinces in the period from 2010 to 2018 to analyze the impact of FDI on wage inequality. The empirical results from the econometric models using systematic GMM showed that FDI tends to increase wage inequality in localities. The results of this study suggest that to ensure sustainable development, policies to attract and use FDI need to be linked with social security policies and efforts to reduce wage inequality. Based on the research results, the study proposes some policy implications to minimize the negative impact of FDI on wage inequality in Vietnam.

Indo-Pacific reluctance and the gulf: an examination of maritime domain awareness as an influence shaping regional maritime security efforts

ABSTRACT Maritime security, while a challenge for littoral states in the Gulf region, has not evolved to reflect global maritime trends. The maritime challenges in the Gulf region point out the necessity of reforming approaches to maritime security and investing in a greater understanding of how the global commons will define the health of individual Gulf states. This paper examines how Gulf states, despite enjoying modern maritime forces, remain fixated on traditional mechanisms for addressing maritime threats. Using a Maritime Domain Awareness framework for analysis, this paper argues that Gulf states lag in information sharing processes tied to maritime security operations that have become a common approach in the Indo-Pacific. Without greater investment by Gulf maritime services into the information sharing arrangements, the Gulf becomes more vulnerable.

Značaj implementacije rodne perspektive u postkonfliktnoj izgradnji mira u Liberiji

In the past few decades, the gender perspective of peacekeeping operations has attracted significant attention from researchers, policymakers and the media. Given that peacekeeping operations are one of the most effective instruments for conflict resolution, understanding the disproportionate impact of violent conflicts on women and girls is key to understanding the issue of a gender perspective in peacekeeping operations. Respecting their different experiences in conflicts is not just justified, it is also essential for post-conflict peacebuilding. The United Nations peacekeeping operation in Liberia (UNMIL) is considered as one of the most success-ful and serves as an exceptional example of a peacekeeping operation in which the presence of female peacekeepers in the contingent, as well as the timely and adequate implementation of a gender perspective, inspired local women to participate in peace and security efforts. This has proved useful not only for the peacekeeping operation, but also for strengthening efforts to create a stable and inclusive post-conflict society. Therefore, the implementation of a gender perspective in peacekeeping operations is an imperative not just in theory, but also in prac-tice, representing an essential element for the success of peacekeeping operations and successful post-conflict peacebuilding.

Russia and the World: 2023 IMEMO Forecast

Abridged English-language version of the annual IMEMO forecast ‘Russia and the World: 2023’ is dedicated to the analysis and the forecast of key trends in the world economy and international relations in 2023. The paper is based on decades-long IMEMO experience in forecast research. The primary focus is on the issues that are of fundamental importance for Russia in the near (2023) and more distant future. Experts come to the conclusion, that the ongoing Ukrainian conflict will have an impact on the situation in the socio-economic, energy, foreign policy, military and political spheres. By a synergetic effect, the military-political conflict is aggravated by its overlap with multiple global deformations caused by the 2019–2021 pandemic as well as climate change, which altogether have resulted in rising food and energy prices. In the world economy, the authors of the paper expect the divergence of country economic growth trajectories and increased competition for technological dominance; the global food problem acquiring crisis traits. In the world trade due to the US–EU and US–UK joint energy security efforts and the growth of oil, petroleum products, and gas trade Transatlantic linkage will grow further. At the global level, the energy transition will take longer and cost significantly more than previously thought. In spite of unprecedented sanctions pressure, the global market offers Russian companies opportunities to circumvent Western sanctions. Also, the sanctions regime is constantly adjusted so that it does not cause excessive damage to the functioning of world markets and the economies of the sanctioning countries. When the world enters a post-conflict phase, the key factors affecting the world order will be: the format of US–China relations development – fierce competition vs. economic and military-political confrontation; the dynamics of Transatlantic relations; Russia's policies and the emergence or absence of opportunities to normalize its relations with the West.

Conceptual and Methodological Approaches to the Study of National Security Efforts of Traditional Societies of the North, Siberia, and Russia's Far East in Transition to Modern Development

Conceptual and Methodological Approaches to the Study of National Security Efforts of Traditional Societies of the North, Siberia, and Russia's Far East in Transition to Modern Development

Cultivating security culture for information security success: A mixed-methods study based on anthropological perspective

The continuous information security failures in organizations have led focus toward organizational culture. It is argued that the development of culture of information security would subsequently lead to a secure organization. However, limited studies have been conducted to understand information security culture. This study aims to understand information security culture and its impact on success with information security efforts in an organization. The research model is based on the theory of primary message systems, which is an established theory from the anthropology discipline. We followed a mixed-methods research design involving two phases of the study. In the first phase, 25 semi-structured interviews with experienced cybersecurity practitioners were conducted to develop the research model. The second phase empirically validated the research model using survey data from 473 participants who completed a web-based survey in Southeast USA from multiple companies. For data analysis, we employed Partial Least Squares - Structural Equation Modeling using SmartPLS. Our findings indicate that group cohesiveness, professional code, information security awareness, and informal work practices have significant influence on information security culture. Further, the security culture has positive impact on information security success perception. The contribution of this research lies in establishing the role of security culture and information security awareness in contributing toward information security success.

Ius Constituendum of the Regulation for Autonomous Body of Social Organizations in the Security Sector as Reserve Command

The universal people's defense and security system mandates the importance of the community's role in defense and security efforts against various threats to the Indonesian state. The role of the community in defense and security efforts can be carried out with the participation of the community to become the Reserve Command. In this case, especially for members of the autonomous bodies of community organizations in the security sector, they should have their own space to become the Reserve Command. This research is a juridical-normative legal research with legal issues, namely the legal vacuum in regulating autonomous bodies of social organizations in the security sector to be given a special route to become a member of the reserve component. The approach in this research is the approach to legislation and the concept approach. The results of the study confirm that the urgency to provide special arrangements for members of autonomous community organizations in the security sector to become members of the reserve component because they already have the basics of security skills. In addition, legal construction needs to be carried out by revising the applicable regulations.

Water vulnerability to pesticide contamination in a Brazilian semiarid watershed.

This study aimed to prepare an inventory of the main active ingredients of pesticides and estimate the risk of pollution of groundwater and surface water resources in a Brazilian semiarid basin. The inventory was prepared using data from government agency databases. The contamination risk estimate was obtained using the GOSS index, Groundwater Ubiquity Score (GUS), Groundwater Screening Index (GSI), Leachability Index (LIX), US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) criteria, Leaching Index (LEACH), and Relative Leaching Potential Index (RLPI). The inventory identified 57 active ingredients commercialized under a well-defined chemical class. Most of these (51.5%) belong to the very dangerous class, while 43.6% belong to the moderately toxic class. The GOSS model showed that 23.7% of the active ingredients have a low potential, 50.85% have a moderate potential, and 13.56% have a high potential for surface water contamination, with its transport being associated with the sediment. The GUS index indicates a low potential for groundwater contamination. However, the GSI points to a high potential for water contamination, the USEPA criteria for a possible contamination of groundwater, and, according to the LIX, most of the pollutants do so by leaching. The information provided contributes to the management of xenobiotic compounds in arid and semiarid basins, adding to the water security effort by providing tools for the assessment of potential pesticide pollution. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:804-816. © 2022 SETAC.

A closer look at organizational cybersecurity research trending topics and limitations

PurposeIn identifying both the topics of interest and key limitations of the extant organizational security research, both opportunities for future research as well as some underlying challenges for conducting this research may be revealed.Design/methodology/approachTo identify the leading organizational cybersecurity research topics of interest and their key limitations, the author conducted a topic modeling analysis of the organizational level studies published in the Association for Information Systems (AIS) senior scholars' “basket of eight journals” (Association for Information Systems, 2022) over the past five years.FindingsLeading topics include (1) organizational security research concerns governance and strategic level decision-making and their role in shaping organizational security successes and failures, (2) cybercriminals and organizations' ability to monitor and detect them from both within and outside the firm; (3) cost, liability and security negligence, (4) organizations' innovation dispositions for security products and services and (5) organizational breach response efficacy; while key limitations of this study include the following: (1) scholars' ability to propose and assess strategic and operational level threat response recommendations, (2) their understanding how influence is formed and maintained among employees and groups and (3) their measurement instruments and models.Originality/valueOrganizations remained plagued by an ever-emerging set of threats to the security of their digital and informational assets. New threats are regularly discovered and remedies to existing threats are continually proven ineffective against these new threats. Providing an orientation to the current research on organizational security can help advance their security efforts.

From flows towards updates: Security regimes and changing technologies for financial surveillance

Abstract‘Follow the money’ is currently the central principle of international financial security, although money itself is probably one of the most unlikely objects to make traceable. Two recent scandals around a security unit and the payment processor Wirecard show how existing systems of financial surveillance that seek to capture ‘flows’ of money for security purposes are either enabled or frustrated. While this current regime of financial surveillance adheres to demanding the free flow of money through financial infrastructures and various actors and intermediaries, new digital currencies build on a set type of ledger(s) in which money is stored as data. Hence, what we understand as money does not ‘flow’, but is rather updated. This change in the underlying infrastructure means that traceability does not need to be enacted; it is an intrinsic feature of digital currencies. With new central bank digital currencies (CBDC), the regime of financial security thus changes from the monitoring of financial flows and flagging of (potentially) illicit transactions towards the storage of financial data in (de)centralised ledgers. This form of transactional governance is engendered by shifting geopolitical agendas that increasingly rely on fractured instead of globalised financial infrastructures, thus making CBDCs themselves subject to security efforts.