Bibliographic details and abstracts are available to all. Downloads of full-text dissertations are restricted to University of Portsmouth members who must login. MPhils may be accessed by all.

Abstract

With the recent surge in cyber attacks, it is crucial organisations are aware of how to stay safe from potential threats. With this in mind, it has never been so important for organisations to ensure they are equipped with the best possible security practices. This is why this research paper sets out to investigate the security practices currently in place for organisations to counter cyber espionage. Cyber espionage is a type of cyber attack that in recent years has become increasingly more dangerous for organisations, due to the nature of a cyber espionage attack. Within this research paper, qualitative data was collected through the use of semi-structured interviews, in which the researcher interviewed IT professionals working within an organisation around the current security practices they use to counter cyber espionage, as well as the benefits and disadvantages that come from these practices, before finally asking if the IT professionals had any recommendations to improve the cyber security field. The qualitative data was then analysed through the use of thematic analysis and is presented within Chapter three. From the results within this research study, it became apparent that the two most common practices used by organisations to counter cyber espionage were, antivirus and endpoint security and the use of a 24/7 security operations centre, both of these practices were used by 66% of participants. This was followed by firewalls and set standards and regimes that 50% of participants expressed their organisations used. Furthermore, it was also found that organisations believed the most important factor to successful cyber security is ensuring all employees know the importance of staying protected from potential threats, as 95% of all cyber attacks are from human error, demonstrating the importance of human factors. To conclude this research, it was found that antivirus and endpoint security alongside a 24/7 security operations centre was seen as the most effective practice to stay protected from cyber espionage, and that the human factors within an organisation play the most significant role in keeping an organisation safe.

Course: Crime and Criminology - BSc (Hons) - C2113P

Date Deposited: 2023-05-03

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis14125.html