Determinants of Attitudes towards Cybersecurity in the Water Industry

Objective - This study examines the impact of various individual and organizational factors on attitudes toward cybersecurity in the Malaysian water sector. Specifically, the study proposes a model in which awareness of information security issues, top management support, leadership, information security policy, and cybersecurity awareness training influence attitudes toward cybersecurity. Methodology/Technique - The research employs a quantitative approach, utilizing structured questionnaires distributed among employees from four water companies located in the northern states of Malaysia. Data were analysed using statistical tools, including PLS-SEM, to determine the strength and nature of relationships between the variables. Finding - The results reveal that awareness of security issues and top management support are positively related to attitudes toward cybersecurity. Novelty - This paper contributes to the existing literature by focusing specifically on the Malaysian water sector, providing empirical evidence on the interplay between factors related to individual, organizational, and attitudinal aspects of cybersecurity, an area previously underexplored in the Southeast Asian context. Type of Paper - Empirical Keywords: Cybersecurity, water sector, risky cybersecurity behaviour, employees, Malaysia JEL Classification: M10, Q25 URI: http://gatrenterprise.com/GATRJournals/GJBSSR/vol13.2_2.html DOI: https://doi.org/10.35609/gjbssr.2025.13.2(2)