An Adaptive Cybersecurity Training Framework for the Education of Social Media Users at Work

Abstract

Formalizing the approach towards risk management on social media is critical for organizations. Regrettably, a review of the state-of-the-art on cybersecurity training highlighted that the existing frameworks are either too generic or too cumbersome to be adapted to different organizations and needs. Thus, we developed the Adaptive Cybersecurity Training Framework for Social Media Risks (ACSTF-SMR), a framework that incorporates social media cybersecurity policies and best practices. The ACSTF-SMR enables organizations, trainers, and policymakers to address the challenges posed by social media in a way that satisfies employees’ training needs and adjusts to their preferences. We tested the ACSTF-SMR with 38 case studies. Employees’ behaviors, learning, and responses after training were assessed, and feedback was gathered to improve the framework. Interviews with policymakers were held to gain insight into the enforcement of social media policies. We conclude that the ACSTF-SMR is a reliable option to mitigate social media threats within organizations.

Keywords

• cybersecurity
• adaptive training
• social media
• education