Making cyber security more resilient: adding social considerations to technological fixes

Dunn Cavelty, Myriam; Eriksen, Christine; Scharte, Benjamin (2023). Making cyber security more resilient: adding social considerations to technological fixes. Journal of Risk Research, 26(7), pp. 801-814. Taylor & Francis 10.1080/13669877.2023.2208146

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How can a focus on socio-technical vulnerability and uncertainty make cyber security more resilient? In this article, we provide a conceptual discussion of how to increase cyber resilience. First, we show how cyber security and resilience thinking co-evolved through their connection to critical infrastructures, and how the ensuing dominant technical focus inevitably always falls short due to the diverse societal values that underpin their critical social functions. We argue that a sole focus on aggregate systems neglects the important differences in how cyber threats are experienced and dealt with by individuals. Second, we draw on insights from social resilience and disaster management literature to establish a better link between individuals and cyber systems. We focus on two key aspects of cyber security that highlight its social nature: vulnerability and uncertainty. Instead of thinking of cyber security as a “technical problem + humans,” we suggest cyber security should be conceptualized as a “social problem + technology.” We conclude by highlighting three ways forward for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners: interdisciplinary research, public debate about a set of normative questions, and the need for an uncertainty discourse in politics and policymaking.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

08 Faculty of Science > Institute of Geography > Human Geography > Geographies of Disasters
08 Faculty of Science > Institute of Geography > Human Geography
08 Faculty of Science > Institute of Geography

UniBE Contributor:

Eriksen, Christine

Subjects:

900 History > 910 Geography & travel

ISSN:

1366-9877

Publisher:

Taylor & Francis

Language:

English

Submitter:

Christine Eriksen

Date Deposited:

04 Sep 2023 12:27

Last Modified:

30 Apr 2024 17:19

Publisher DOI:

10.1080/13669877.2023.2208146

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/185814

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/185814

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