Training for improved information security culture: a longitudinal randomized controlled trial

Purpose The information security behaviors of individuals can pose a risk to their organization’s information security. To address employees’ information security behaviors and managers’ information security leadership behaviors, this paper aims to develop a behavioral training program called Training for Improved Information Security Culture (TIISC). TIISC consisted of information-security training for the employees and managerial behavioral training for the managers. The training program aimed at direct change of behavior as well as indirect change through improved information security culture, as manifested through information security climate. Design/methodology/approach The effects of TIISC on information security culture was assessed in a longitudinal randomized controlled trial. Data were collected over a 16-month period, using both behavioral measurements and questionnaires on behavior and climate. Latent growth modeling was used for the statistical analysis of change, in terms of how change differed between the control and experimental groups. Findings The results show that the training program had significant positive effects on the information security leadership of managers; but for employees, significant positive effects were only found for information security learning. Training programs that incorporate managerial behavioral training can realize important improvements in organizations’ information security culture, primarily by addressing managers’ information security leadership behaviors through behavior analysis and practice with performance feedback. Originality/value The authors report the results of a longitudinal randomized controlled trial testing the effects of information security training on multiple types of information security behaviors and approaches as indicators of information security culture. Longitudinal randomized controlled trials in security education training and awareness research are important because they advance the understanding of how information security culture can be effectively improved.