security risk management research topics

Security Management Research Paper Topics

Security management research paper topics are a critical area of study for management students looking to explore the complex world of safeguarding organizational assets. Security management covers various facets, including information security, physical security, risk management, compliance, and more. The study of security management is increasingly relevant in our technology-driven world. Research within this field equips students with the knowledge to protect an organization’s information and physical resources, and the skills to respond to rapidly evolving security threats. This page provides a comprehensive list of research topics to assist students in selecting a subject that aligns with their interests and the current industry demands. The following sections will provide an in-depth look into various security management research topics, organized into ten categories with ten subjects each. Additionally, this page will offer insights into how to choose and write about these topics, along with an overview of iResearchNet’s customized writing services for those who seek professional assistance.

100 Security Management Research Paper Topics

The field of security management is as vast as it is vital in today’s global landscape. From protecting information systems to ensuring the physical safety of assets, security management plays a central role in the smooth operation of organizations across various sectors. As we dive into this comprehensive list of security management research paper topics, students will find a plethora of subjects that are both challenging and relevant. The topics are divided into ten distinct categories, each focusing on a different aspect of security management.

Academic Writing, Editing, Proofreading, And Problem Solving Services

Get 10% off with 24start discount code.

• Role of Encryption in Data Protection
• Security Protocols in Wireless Networks
• Cloud Security Management Strategies
• Biometric Security Measures
• Ethical Hacking and Defense Strategies
• Security Risks in Internet of Things (IoT)
• Mobile Application Security
• Compliance with GDPR and Other Regulations
• Social Engineering Attacks and Prevention
• Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and Security
• Designing Secure Buildings and Facilities
• Access Control Systems and Technologies
• Surveillance and Monitoring Techniques
• Security Personnel Training and Management
• Risk Assessment for Physical Threats
• Vehicle Security and Fleet Management
• Maritime Security Protocols
• Security Measures for Public Events
• Emergency Response and Evacuation Planning
• Integration of Technology in Physical Security
• Enterprise Risk Management Strategies
• Security Policies and Compliance Auditing
• Regulatory Compliance in Different Industries
• Risk Mitigation and Disaster Recovery Planning
• Cyber Insurance and Risk Transfer
• Security Awareness and Training Programs
• Third-party Vendor Risk Management
• Financial Risk Management in Security Operations
• Implementing ISO Security Standards
• Privacy Policies and Consumer Protection
• Cyber Threat Intelligence and Analysis
• Intrusion Detection Systems and Firewalls
• Secure Software Development Lifecycle
• Incident Response and Crisis Management
• Security Considerations in E-commerce
• Protecting Against Ransomware and Malware
• Security in Social Networking Sites
• Cybersecurity in Critical Infrastructure
• Mobile Device Security in the Workplace
• Privacy vs. Security in Cyber Law
• Role of CISO (Chief Information Security Officer)
• Security Leadership and Governance
• Insider Threat Management and Mitigation
• Security Culture and Employee Behavior
• Contractual and Legal Aspects of Security
• Intellectual Property Protection
• Security Metrics and Performance Indicators
• Outsourcing Security Services
• Security Budgeting and Financial Management
• Integrating Security with Business Strategy
• Terrorism and Counterterrorism Strategies
• Security Intelligence and Law Enforcement
• Border Control and Immigration Security
• Cyber Warfare and State-sponsored Attacks
• Protection of Critical National Infrastructure
• Emergency Preparedness and Response
• Security Considerations in International Relations
• Humanitarian Security and Crisis Management
• Nuclear Security and Non-proliferation
• Global Maritime Security Issues
• Security in Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities
• Patient Data Privacy and HIPAA Compliance
• Medical Device and IoT Security
• Emergency Medical Services and Security
• Security Measures for Mental Health Facilities
• Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Security
• Bioterrorism and Public Health Security
• Security Education for Healthcare Professionals
• Medical Records Security and Management
• Telemedicine and Remote Healthcare Security
• Security Considerations in Online Retail
• Fraud Detection and Prevention Strategies
• Payment Security and PCI Compliance
• Inventory Security and Loss Prevention
• Consumer Trust and Brand Protection
• E-commerce Regulations and Compliance
• Security in Omnichannel Retailing
• Secure Customer Experience Design
• Mobile Commerce Security
• Retail Surveillance and Anti-shoplifting Techniques
• Campus Safety and Security Measures
• Cybersecurity Education and Curriculum
• Student Data Privacy and Protection
• Security in Online Learning Platforms
• Intellectual Property Rights in Academia
• Emergency Response Plans for Educational Institutions
• School Transportation Security
• Security Measures for Laboratories and Research Facilities
• Ethical Guidelines in Academic Research
• Security Considerations in International Student Exchange
• Artificial Intelligence in Security
• Quantum Computing and Cryptography
• Security Implications of 5G Technology
• Sustainable and Green Security Practices
• Human Factors in Security Design
• Blockchain for Security Applications
• Virtual and Augmented Reality Security
• Security in Autonomous Vehicles
• Integration of Smart Technologies in Security
• Ethical Considerations in Emerging Security Technologies

Security management is an ever-evolving field, reacting to both technological advancements and global socio-political changes. The above categories and topics encompass a broad spectrum of the security management domain. This comprehensive list is designed to inspire students and guide them towards a research paper that not only interests them but also contributes to the growing body of knowledge in security management. By exploring these topics, students will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of current issues and become part of the ongoing conversation in this vital area of study.

Security Management and the Range of Research Paper Topics

Introduction to security management.

Security management has increasingly become a central concern for organizations, governments, and individuals in our interconnected and technologically driven world. Its primary focus is on safeguarding assets, information, and people by assessing risks and implementing strategies to mitigate potential threats. From the micro-level of individual privacy protection to the macro-level of national security, the concepts and practices within this field permeate almost every aspect of our daily lives. This article delves into the fundamental aspects of security management and explores the extensive range of research paper topics it offers.

Key Principles and Concepts in Security Management

• Risk Assessment and Mitigation: At the core of security management lies the process of identifying, evaluating, and minimizing risks. It involves recognizing potential vulnerabilities, assessing the likelihood of threats, and implementing measures to reduce the potential impact.
• Compliance and Regulation: Security management is also heavily influenced by various laws, regulations, and industry standards. Whether it’s GDPR for data protection or HIPAA for healthcare, compliance with these regulations is essential to avoid legal consequences.
• Physical and Cyber Security: Security management encompasses both the physical and digital realms. Physical security focuses on protecting tangible assets, such as buildings and equipment, while cyber security emphasizes safeguarding digital information.
• Human Factors: People are often considered the weakest link in security. Training, awareness, and a robust security culture are crucial in ensuring that employees and stakeholders understand and adhere to security protocols.
• Technology and Innovation: With the advent of new technologies like AI, blockchain, and IoT, security management must continuously evolve to address the unique challenges and opportunities they present.
• Global Perspectives: In a globally connected world, security management must consider international laws, cross-border data flows, and the unique risks associated with different geographical regions.
• Ethics and Social Responsibility: Ethical considerations in security management include respecting individual privacy, transparency in surveillance, and social responsibility in using technology for security purposes.

Range and Depth of Research Paper Topics

Given the complexity and multidimensionality of security management, the range of research paper topics in this field is vast. The following sections provide an insight into the various dimensions that can be explored:

• Information Security Management: Research can focus on encryption, authentication, intrusion detection, or explore the psychological aspects of social engineering attacks.
• Physical Security Management: Topics may include architectural design for security, biometrics, or the balance between security and convenience in access controls.
• Organizational Security Management: This includes leadership and governance in security, insider threats, and the alignment of security strategies with business goals.
• Global and National Security Management: Areas to explore here include counterterrorism strategies, cybersecurity policies among nations, or human rights considerations in security protocols.
• Retail and E-commerce Security Management: From payment security to fraud detection, this area explores the unique challenges in the retail and online shopping environment.
• Emerging Trends in Security Management: This invites research into the future of security management, considering technological advancements, emerging threats, and the ethical implications of new tools and techniques.

Security management is an intricate field that intertwines technological, human, organizational, and societal aspects. It continues to evolve in response to the rapidly changing global landscape marked by technological innovation, geopolitical shifts, and emerging threats. The range of research paper topics in security management reflects this diversity and offers a wealth of opportunities for students to engage with cutting-edge issues.

The ongoing development of this field requires fresh insights, innovative thinking, and a commitment to understanding the underlying principles that govern security management. By delving into any of the areas outlined above, students can contribute to this exciting and ever-changing field. Whether exploring traditional aspects like risk management or venturing into the realms of AI and blockchain, the possibilities for research are as broad and varied as the field itself.

This article provides a foundational understanding of security management and serves as a springboard for further exploration. It’s a gateway to a myriad of research avenues, each offering a unique perspective and challenge, all united by the common goal of enhancing the security and safety of our interconnected world.

How to Choose Security Management Research Paper Topics

Selecting a topic for a research paper in the field of security management is a crucial step that sets the tone for the entire research process. The breadth and depth of this field offer a wide array of possibilities, making the choice both exciting and somewhat daunting. The topic must be relevant, engaging, unique, and, most importantly, aligned with the researcher’s interests and the academic requirements. This section provides a comprehensive guide on how to choose the perfect security management research paper topic, with 10 actionable tips to simplify the process.

• Identify Your Interests: Begin by exploring areas within security management that truly intrigue you. Whether it’s cyber threats, risk management, or physical security measures, your passion for the subject will drive a more engaging research process.
• Understand the Scope: Security management spans across various sectors such as IT, healthcare, retail, and more. Assess the scope of your paper to determine which sector aligns best with your academic needs and professional goals.
• Consider the Relevance: Choose a topic that is pertinent to current trends and challenges in security management. Researching emerging threats or innovative technologies can lead to more compelling findings.
• Assess Available Resources: Ensure that there is enough accessible information and research material on the chosen topic. A topic too obscure might lead to difficulties in finding supporting evidence and data.
• Consult with Your Advisor or Mentor: An experienced academic advisor or mentor can provide valuable insights into the feasibility and potential of various topics, helping you make an informed decision.
• Balance Complexity and Manageability: Selecting a topic that is too broad can be overwhelming, while a narrow topic might lack depth. Striking the right balance ensures that you can comprehensively cover the subject within the stipulated word count and time frame.
• Consider Ethical Implications: Especially in a field like security management, ethical considerations must be at the forefront. Any topic involving human subjects, privacy concerns, or potentially sensitive information should be approached with caution and integrity.
• Align with Learning Objectives: Reflect on the specific learning outcomes of your course or program, and choose a topic that aligns with these objectives. It ensures that your research contributes to your overall academic development.
• Evaluate Potential Contributions: Think about what new insights or perspectives your research could offer to the field of security management. Choosing a topic that allows you to make a meaningful contribution can be more satisfying and impactful.
• Experiment with Preliminary Research: Before finalizing a topic, conduct some preliminary research to gauge the existing literature and potential research gaps. It can help refine your focus and provide a clearer direction.

Choosing a research paper topic in security management is a multifaceted process that requires thoughtful consideration of various factors. By following the tips outlined above, you can navigate through the complexities of this task and select a topic that resonates with your interests, aligns with academic goals, and contributes to the broader field of security management. Remember, a well-chosen topic is the foundation upon which a successful research paper is built. It’s the starting point that leads to a journey filled with discovery, analysis, and intellectual growth. Make this choice wisely, and let it be a gateway to an engaging and rewarding research experience.

How to Write a Security Management Research Paper

A. introductory paragraph.

Writing a research paper on security management requires more than just a keen interest in the subject; it demands a systematic approach, adherence to academic standards, and the ability to synthesize complex information. Security management, with its multifaceted nature encompassing physical security, cybersecurity, risk assessment, and more, offers an exciting but challenging landscape for research. In this section, we will delve into a step-by-step guide comprising 10 vital tips on how to write an effective security management research paper. These tips aim to guide you through the research, planning, writing, and revision stages, ensuring a coherent and impactful paper.

• Choose the Right Topic: Guidance: Reflect on your interests, the current trends in the field, and the available resources. Consult with mentors and refer to the previous section for more insights into selecting the perfect topic.
• Conduct Thorough Research: Guidance: Use reliable sources like academic journals, books, and reputable online resources. Gather diverse viewpoints on the topic and keep track of the sources for citation.
• Develop a Strong Thesis Statement: Guidance: The thesis should encapsulate the main argument or focus of your paper. It should be clear, concise, and specific, providing a roadmap for the reader.
• Create an Outline: Guidance: Outline the main sections, including introduction, literature review, methodology, findings, discussion, conclusion, and references. An organized structure helps maintain coherence and logical flow.
• Write a Compelling Introduction: Guidance: Begin with a hook that grabs the reader’s attention, provide background information, and conclude with the thesis statement. The introduction sets the stage for the entire paper.
• Employ the Appropriate Methodology: Guidance: Choose the research methods that align with your research question and objectives. Explain the rationale behind your choices, ensuring that they adhere to ethical standards.
• Analyze Findings and Discuss Implications: Guidance: Present your research findings in a clear and unbiased manner. Discuss the implications of the results in the context of the existing literature and real-world applications.
• Conclude with Insight: Guidance: Summarize the main findings, restate the thesis in the context of the research, and discuss the potential limitations and future research directions. The conclusion should leave the reader with something to ponder.
• Adhere to Academic Formatting: Guidance: Follow the specific formatting guidelines required by your institution or the style guide (APA, MLA, etc.). Pay attention to citations, references, headings, and overall presentation.
• Revise and Proofread: Guidance: Allocate ample time for revising content, structure, and language. Use tools or seek help from peers or professionals for proofreading to ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity.

Writing a security management research paper is a rigorous and intellectually stimulating endeavor that requires meticulous planning, research, and execution. The tips provided in this guide are meant to facilitate a well-structured and insightful paper that adheres to academic excellence. By following these guidelines, you not only develop a comprehensive understanding of security management but also contribute valuable insights to this evolving field. Remember, writing is a process of exploration, articulation, and refinement. Embrace the challenge, learn from the journey, and take pride in the scholarly contribution you make through your research paper on security management.

iResearchNet’s Custom Research Paper Services

In the complex world of security management, crafting a top-notch research paper can be a daunting task. The landscape of security management is multifaceted, encompassing areas such as cybersecurity, risk analysis, policy development, physical security, and much more. For students juggling multiple responsibilities, producing a quality research paper on these intricate subjects may seem nearly impossible. That’s where iResearchNet comes into play. Offering tailor-made solutions to your academic needs, iResearchNet is your go-to service for custom security management research papers. Below are the features that make iResearchNet the ideal choice for your academic success.

• Expert Degree-Holding Writers: At iResearchNet, we employ writers who not only hold advanced degrees but also have extensive experience in security management. Their expertise ensures that your paper is insightful, well-researched, and academically sound.
• Custom Written Works: Every research paper is crafted from scratch, tailored to your specific needs, guidelines, and preferences. Our writers work closely with you to understand your vision, making the paper uniquely yours.
• In-Depth Research: Our team engages in thorough research, using reputable sources and cutting-edge methodologies. This diligent approach guarantees a comprehensive understanding of the subject and a well-rounded paper.
• Custom Formatting: Adhering to academic standards is crucial, and our writers are skilled in various formatting styles. Whether APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, or Harvard, your paper will be formatted to perfection.
• Top Quality: Quality is at the core of our services. From the initial draft to the final submission, we maintain the highest standards of excellence, ensuring that your paper stands out.
• Customized Solutions: We recognize that each student’s needs are unique. Hence, our solutions are not one-size-fits-all but are customized to meet your specific requirements, timelines, and academic level.
• Flexible Pricing: Quality doesn’t have to break the bank. Our pricing structure is designed to be affordable and flexible, providing various options to fit different budgets.
• Short Deadlines: Whether you’re facing a last-minute crunch or planning ahead, our writers can accommodate tight deadlines. Even within as short as 3 hours, we deliver without compromising on quality.
• Timely Delivery: Your time is valuable, and we respect that. Our commitment to timely delivery ensures that you receive your paper well before the deadline, giving you ample time for review.
• 24/7 Support:  Questions or concerns? Our support team is available around the clock. With 24/7 assistance, you can rest assured that help is always just a click away.
• Absolute Privacy: Your privacy is our priority. We employ stringent security measures to protect your personal information. With iResearchNet, your details are safe, secure, and confidential.
• Easy Order Tracking:  With our user-friendly tracking system, you can easily monitor the progress of your order. Stay updated, provide feedback, and enjoy a smooth and transparent process.
• Money Back Guarantee:  Your satisfaction is our goal. If, for any reason, our services do not meet your expectations, our money-back guarantee ensures that you are not at a loss.

iResearchNet’s custom security management research paper services are more than just a promise; they are a commitment to excellence, convenience, and integrity. Our blend of expert writers, personalized solutions, quality assurance, and robust support makes us the preferred choice for students across the globe. Dive into the world of security management without the stress of paper writing, knowing that iResearchNet has got your back. Embark on your academic journey with confidence and trust in a partner who understands your needs and shares your pursuit of excellence. With iResearchNet, you’re not just ordering a paper; you’re investing in your future.

Secure Your Academic Success Today

Are you feeling overwhelmed with the prospect of writing your security management research paper? Perhaps you’re struggling to find the right topic, or the research is becoming a tedious task? You don’t have to go through this alone. With iResearchNet’s specialized writing services, all your academic challenges can be turned into opportunities for success.

What sets iResearchNet apart from other writing services is not just our expertise and quality but our understanding of students’ needs. We know that every research paper is not just a task but a step towards your future career in security management. That’s why we invest our best resources to make sure your paper is nothing short of perfect. Our expert writers, meticulous research, and dedication to your satisfaction are all geared towards one goal – helping you excel.

We don’t just write papers; we create opportunities for learning and growth. When you choose iResearchNet, you’re not only receiving a top-notch research paper but also gaining access to a treasure trove of knowledge in security management. With our 24/7 support, flexible pricing, and customizable solutions, your success is no longer a distant dream but a tangible reality.

Take the step towards a brighter academic future. Don’t let the burden of research and writing hold you back from achieving your best. Click the button below to place your order and begin a collaborative journey with iResearchNet. With our secure and user-friendly platform, ordering your custom security management research paper is just a few clicks away. Empower yourself with the right partner, and let iResearchNet pave the way to your academic success.

ORDER HIGH QUALITY CUSTOM PAPER

• Browse All Articles
• Newsletter Sign-Up

RiskManagement →

No results found in working knowledge.

• Were any results found in one of the other content buckets on the left?
• Try removing some search filters.
• Use different search filters.

Burp Scanner

Burp Suite's web vulnerability scanner

Product comparison

What's the difference between Pro and Enterprise Edition?

Download the latest version of Burp Suite.

How I choose a security research topic

James Kettle

Director of Research

Published: 14 June 2023 at 13:09 UTC

Updated: 14 June 2023 at 13:16 UTC

How do you choose what topic to research? That’s the single most common question I get asked, probably because selecting a topic is such a daunting prospect. In this post, I’ll take a personal look at how I select topics for security research. As a case study, I’ll use my latest research, which will be presented at Black Hat USA and DEF CON this August:

Smashing the State Machine: the True Potential of Web Race Conditions

The hardest part

Before we start, I should mention that I firmly believe that choosing a topic is not the hardest part of web security research.

I’ve spoken to so many people who have cool ideas but never attempt to execute them. On the rare occasion that someone does mention a research idea that I think is doomed from the outset, it’s clear that attempting it will still provide them with a major learning experience - hardly a terrible outcome.

In fact, I don’t think that coming up with research ideas is the hard part either. Once you start researching, you’ll likely find every topic you explore leaves you with ideas for three more projects.

I think the hardest part of research is knowing when to bail, and when to push on.

Fast failure

My primary criteria when I evaluate a topic is how much time I’ll need to invest before I have enough information to decide whether to abandon it or continue. Knowing when to abandon a topic and when to push on is an extremely valuable skill for research, and it’s worth putting thought into this before starting.

This year, the attack-concept I wanted to explore initially looked like it required a major up-front time investment. However, I identified a short-cut - if I could build a test website that was vulnerable and reasonably realistic, that would prove the concept was pursuing. I built the website, quickly discovered that the attack concept was extremely unrealistic, and quickly pivoted to a different concept.

The second concept showed just enough promise to make me waste six weeks on it before it flopped too. When looking for a third concept, race conditions was an attractive topic because I already had powerful tooling from the prior project. This meant it would only take about a day to adapt the tooling, and a week or two of manual testing to see if I could discover something significant in the wild. I found a novel high-impact vulnerability in under a week, which cemented my commitment to the topic.

The fear factor

I like to research topics I’m scared of. Fear is a great indicator of something I don’t fully understand, and challenges that I don’t know how to tackle. Race conditions provided this in buckets, and I place this up-front and center in my abstract:

For too long, web race-condition attacks have focused on a tiny handful of scenarios. Their true potential has been masked thanks to tricky workflows, missing tooling, and simple network jitter hiding all but the most trivial, obvious examples. In this session, I’ll introduce multiple new classes of race condition that go far beyond the limit-overrun exploits you’re probably already familiar with... [read full abstract]

Direct impact vs audience impact

As a security professional, it’s tempting to rate a research project’s impact based on the direct impact. For example, over the years I’ve seen a range of serious flaws in a certain popular CDN, and I suspect that if I directly targeted it, I could find multiple ways to take over all their customers’ websites - a reasonable chunk of the web. In terms of direct impact, this would be pretty good.

But when you submit to Black Hat, they ask you to specify ‘three actionable take-aways’ for the audience. How would my hypothetical CDN-popping talk answer this? The only action required would be from that sole CDN vendor - in effect I’d just be giving a war-story talk. These can be entertaining and inspiring, but that’s not what I’m aiming for.

I try to pick a topic where the audience will take away novel attack techniques, and any tools or methodology required to make them practical to apply.

Applicable audience

Over the last five years, my research has been focused on HTTP Request Smuggling and Web Cache Poisoning . Since I’m well-versed in this topic, doing further research directly on top has become relatively easy, and I’m perpetually aware of multiple promising ideas.

However, while creating the presentation for last year’s Browser-Powered Desync Attacks , I became acutely aware that it demanded an exceptional amount of prior technical knowledge from the audience.

Building on a little recent research often works well because you can summarise it yourself. However, building on a large volume of recent research means that anyone in the audience who isn’t already familiar is going to struggle, and overall less people will get the benefit.

This year, by focusing on race conditions - a topic with minimal recent developments - I’ve been able to start building on a foundation that most attendees will be familiar with. Relative to last year’s talk, you can expect this talk to have both greater potential for the experts, and greater accessibility for the masses.

Existing skill-sets vs personal development

There’s a second, more personal reason why I changed my research focus away from request smuggling. I expect request smuggling to keep yielding good research for years to come, but just like any topic, at some point it’ll dry up. If I maintain my exclusive focus on this topic, there’s a risk I’ll become over-specialised and end up in a bad place when the topic stops yielding fruit.

I deliberately choose race conditions to avoid this over-specialisation risk, even though I regarded it as a much riskier bet than doing even more request smuggling exploration. Personal development is a huge and easily overlooked part of research. I rarely repeat my presentations across months for the same reason - if you spend your time sharing the same presentation over and over, you’re sacrificing novel research time.

That said, there’s a balance to be had here - if you have specialist knowledge, that will give you an edge on certain topics. Race conditions appealed from the start because I’d observed low-level HTTP quirks that could enhance these attacks, and I’d also observed them in the wild when trying to exploit response queue poisoning.

No topic is perfect; this presentation has fewer case studies than usual for me because fully automated detection of these vulnerabilities is not practical. On the plus side, this leaves a large number of vulnerabilities on the table that the audience can find simply by applying the methodology.

Ultimately, I see over-thinking topic choice as a pitfall. Save your energy for the research itself - you’ll need it! If you found this useful, you might also like So you want to be a web security researcher , and the presentation Hunting Evasive Vulnerabilities .

If you’re got any thoughts or queries, feel free to ping me on Twitter or LinkedIn . Hopefully I’ll see some of you in-person at the presentation too!

Back to all articles

Related Research

Making desync attacks easy with trace, using form hijacking to bypass csp, hiding payloads in java source code strings.

Information security management frameworks and strategies in higher education institutions: a systematic review

• Published: 25 July 2020
• Volume 76 , pages 255–270, ( 2021 )

Cite this article

• Jorge Merchan-Lima 1 ,
• Fabian Astudillo-Salinas   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-7644-0270 1 ,
• Luis Tello-Oquendo 2 ,
• Franklin Sanchez 3 , 4 ,
• Gabriel Lopez-Fonseca 3 , 4 &
• Dorys Quiroz 5  

1942 Accesses

15 Citations

Explore all metrics

Effective information security management (ISM) practices to protect the information assets of organizations from security intrusions and attacks is imperative. In that sense, a systematic literature review of academic articles focused on ISM in higher education institutions (HEIs) is conducted. For this purpose, an empirical study was performed. Studies carried out from 2012 onward reporting results from HEIs data that perform the ISM through various means, such as a set of framework functions, implementation phases, infrastructure services, and securities to their assets, have been explored. The articles found were then analyzed following a methodological procedure consisting of a systematic mapping study with their research questions, inclusion and exclusion criteria, selection of digital libraries, and analysis of the respective search strings. A set of competencies, resources, directives, and strategies that contribute to designing and to developing an ISM framework (ISMF) for HEIs is identified based on standards such as ISO 27000, COBIT, ITIL, NIST, and EDUCAUSE. This study introduces a strategic reference that guides HEIs on the development of an ISMF and provides recommendations that should be considered for its implementation in an era of ever-evolving security threats.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price includes VAT (Russian Federation)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Rent this article via DeepDyve

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Impacts of digital technologies on education and factors influencing schools' digital capacity and transformation: A literature review

Systematic review of research on artificial intelligence applications in higher education – where are the educators?

Ethical principles for artificial intelligence in education

BSA-The Software Alliance and Galexia (2015) What’s the big deal with data? https://data.bsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/BSADataStudy_en.pdf . (Accessed: 20 Apr 2019)

Foro Económico Mundial (2012) Big data, big impact: new possibilities for international development. Foro Económico Mundial. Cologny, Suiza. Disponible en:< www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_TC_MFS_BigDataBigIm-pact_Briefing_2012.pdf

González-Martínez J, Bote-Lorenzo ML, Gómez-Sánchez E, Cano-Parra R (2015) Cloud computing and education: a state-of-the-art survey. Comput Educ 80:132–151

Article   Google Scholar  

Carlton M P, Wyrick P, Frederique N, Lopez B (2017) States’ roles in keeping schools safe: opportunities and challenges for state school safety centers and other actors. National Institute of Justice Report. National Institute of Justice

Dahlstrom E, Bichsel J (2014) Ecar study of undergraduate students and information technology. In: Educause, 2014

Ponemon L (2017) Cost of data breach study. Ponemon Institute

Smyth G (2017) Using data virtualisation to detect an insider breach. Comput Fraud Secur 2017 (8):5–7

McRobbie MA, Wheeler B (2010) Three insights for presidents and cios. EDUCAUSE Rev 45(3):8–9

Google Scholar  

Eloff J H P, Eloff M M (2005) Information security architecture. Comput Fraud Secur 2005 (11):10–16

Disterer G (2013) ISO/IEC 27000, 27001 and 27002 for information security management. J Inf Secur

Khther R A, Othman M (2013) Cobit framework as a guideline of effective it governance in higher education: a review. Int J Inf Technol Converg Serv 3(1):21

Office of Government Commerce Großbritannien (2007) The official introduction to the ITIL service lifecycle TSO,(The Stationary Office)

Center for Internet Security (2019) Cis critical security controls - version 7.0. https://www.sans.org/critical-security-controls . (Accessed: 20 May 2019)

Newhouse W, Keith S, Scribner B, Witte G (2017) National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) cybersecurity workforce framework. NIST Special Publ 800:181

Kitchenham B (2004) Procedures for performing systematic reviews. Keele, UK, Keele University 33(2004):1–26

Grajek S (2018) Top 10 it issues, 2018: the remaking of higher education. In: EDUCAUSE review, 2018. EDUCAUSE, pp 55–62

Susanto H, Almunawar MN, Tuan YC (2011) Information security management system standards: a comparative study of the big five. Int J Electr Comput Sci IJECSIJENS 11(5):23–29

Hentea M, Dhillon HS, Dhillon M (2006) Towards changes in information security education. J Inf Technol Educ: Res 5(1):221–233

Asosheh A, Hajinazari P, Khodkari H (2013) A practical implementation of isms. In: 7th international conference on e-commerce in developing countries: with focus on e-security. IEEE, pp 1–17

Suwito MH, Matsumoto S, Kawamoto J, Gollmann D, Sakurai K (2016) An analysis of it assessment security maturity in higher education institution. In: Information science and applications (ICISA) 2016. Springer, pp 701–713

Mumtaz N (2015) Analysis of information security through asset management in academic institutes of Pakistan. In: International conference on information and communication technologies (ICICT). IEEE, p 2015

Joshi C, Singh UK (2017) Information security risks management framework—a step towards mitigating security risks in university network. J Inf Secur Appl 35:128–137

Suroso JS, Fakhrozi MA (2018) Assessment of information system risk management with octave allegro at education institution. Procedia Comput Sci 135:202–213

Yustanti W, Qoiriah A, Bisma R, Prihanto A (2018) An analysis of indonesia’s information security index: a case study in a public university. In: IOP conference series: materials science and engineering, vol 296. IOP Publishing, p 012038

Bianchi IS, Sousa RD, Pereira R (2017) It governance mechanisms at universities: an exploratory study. In: Strategic and competitive use of information technology (SCUIT)

Valencia-Duque FJ, Orozco-Alzate M (2017) Metodología para la implementación de un Sistema de Gestión de Seguridad de la Información basado en la familia de normas ISO/IEC 27000. In: RISTI - Revista Ibérica de Sistemas e Tecnologias de Informação, pp 73–88, 06

Sarwar A, Khan MN (2013) A review of trust aspects in cloud computing security. Int J Cloud Comput Serv Sci 2(2):116

Popović K, Hocenski ž (2010) Cloud computing security issues and challenges. In: The 33rd international convention MIPRO. IEEE, pp 344–349

Younis YA, Kifayat K (2013) Secure cloud computing for critical infrastructure: a survey. Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, Tech. Rep.

Zhang X, Wuwong N, Li H, Zhang X (2010) Information security risk management framework for the cloud computing environments. In: 2010 10th IEEE international conference on computer and information technology. IEEE, pp 1328–1334

Peltier TR (2016) Information security policies, procedures, and standards: guidelines for effective information security management. Auerbach Publications

Jerman-Blažič B et al (2012) Quantitative model for economic analyses of information security investment in an enterprise information system. Organizacija 45(6):276–288

Liu F, Tong J, Mao J, Bohn R, Messina J, Badger L, Leaf D (2011) Nist cloud computing reference architecture. NIST Spec Publ 500(2011):1–28

Soomro ZA, Shah MH, Ahmed J (2016) Information security management needs more holistic approach: a literature review. Int J Inf Manag 36(2):215–225

Rezgui Y, Marks A (2012) Information security awareness in higher education: an exploratory study. Comput Secur 27(7–8):241–253

Chen S, Tang Y, Li Z (2016) Unita: a reference model of university it architecture. In: Proceedings of the 2016 international conference on communication and information systems. ACM, pp 73–77

Sharbaf MS (2014) A new perspective to information security: total quality information security management. In: Proceedings of the 7th international conference on security of information and networks. ACM, p 56

Gunawan I, Noertjahyana A, Rusli H (2014) Security risk management at the computer center of X university. ARPN J Eng Appl Sci 9:2906–2911

Gunawan I, Noertjahyana A, Rusli H, Zavareh AA, Abdullah R, Fadilah SI, Shibghatullah AS, Abas ZA, Wahab MHA, Nur W, Hashim W et al (2014) Analysis and implementation of operational security management on computer center at the university X. Journal

Rehman H, Masood A, Cheema AR (2013) Information security management in academic institutes of Pakistan. In: 2013 2nd National conference on information assurance (NCIA). IEEE, pp 47–51

Ismail WBW, Widyarto S, Ahmad RATR, Ghani KA (2017) A generic framework for information security policy development. In: 2017 4th International conference on electrical engineering, computer science and informatics (EECSI). IEEE, pp 1–6

Jufri MT, Hendayun M, Suharto T (2017) Risk-assessment based academic information system security policy using octave allegro and iso 27002. In: Second international conference on informatics and computing (ICIC), p 2017

Bianchi IS, Sousa RD (2016) It governance mechanisms in higher education. Procedia Comput Sci 100:941–946

Gultom R, Midhio W, Silitonga T, Pudjiatmoko S (2018) Introducing the six-ware cyber security framework concept to enhancing cyber security environment. In: ICCWS 2018 13th international conference on cyber warfare and security. Academic conferences and publishing limited, p 262

Mohamad FS, Albahaloul HA (2018) Assessing security of cloud services in Malaysian universities a review. In: Proceedings of the international conference on E-business and mobile commerce. ACM, p 2018

Nugroho LE, Santosa PI, Ferdiana R et al (2017) Recommendation of cloud computing use for the academic data storage in university in Lampung province, Indonesia. In: 2017 7th International annual engineering seminar (InAES). IEEE, pp 1–5

Rajab M, Eydgahi A (2019) Evaluating the explanatory power of theoretical frameworks on intention to comply with information security policies in higher education. Comput Secur 80:211– 223

Sanchez-Puchol F, Pastor-Collado JA, Borrell B (2017) Towards an unified information systems reference model for higher education institutions. Procedia Comput Sci 121:542–553

Joshi C, Singh UK (2016) Quantitative information security risk assessment model for university computing environment. In: 2016 International conference on information technology (ICIT). IEEE, pp 69–74

Zhang H, Li HB, Liu HJ (2013) Design and implementation of management information system based on ssh architecture for departments of colleges and universities. In: Advanced materials research, vol 756. Trans Tech Publ, pp 1933–1937

Cheung SKS (2014) Information security management for higher education institutions. In: Intelligent data analysis and its applications, vol I. Springer, pp 11–19

Reddy N, Singh P, Petkov D (2013) Perceptions and expectations of it service delivery post migration to a microsoft platform at a university of technology in South Africa. In: Proceedings of the South African Institute for computer scientists and information technologists conference. ACM, pp 85–89

Wada T, Fuse I, Okabe S, Tatsumi T, Ueda H, Uehara T, Nakanishi M, Tagawa T, Murata I (2017) Producing video clips for information ethics and security in higher education. In: Proceedings of the 2017 ACM annual conference on SIGUCCS. ACM, pp 129–131

Pereira C, Ferreira C, Amaral L (2018) An it value management capability model for Portuguese universities: a delphi study. Procedia Comput Sci 138:612–620

Ngoqo B, Flowerday SV (2015) Information security behaviour profiling framework (isbpf) for student mobile phone users. Comput Secur 53:132–142

Harrell CR, Patton M, Chen H, Samtani S (2018) Vulnerability assessment, remediation, and automated reporting: case studies of higher education institutions. In: 2018 IEEE international conference on intelligence and security informatics (ISI). IEEE, pp 148–153

CM Kang, PSJ Ng, K Issa (2015) A study on integrating penetration testing into the information security framework for malaysian higher education institutions. In: 2015 international symposium on mathematical sciences and computing research (iSMSC). IEEE, pp 156–161

Yamanoue T, Furuya T, Shimozono K, Masuya M, Oda K, Mori K (2013) Enhancing information security of a university using computer ethics video clips, managed security service and an information security management system. In: Proceedings of the 41st annual ACM SIGUCCS conference on User services. ACM, pp 101–104

Xie JH, Xiao JH (2014) Constructing an university scientific research management information system of net platform. In: Applied mechanics and materials, vol 441. Trans Tech Publ, pp 984–988

Feng H, Wei W, Kong Z, Yang S (2017) Research on information security evaluation model of public institution. In: International symposium on intelligent signal processing and communication systems (ISPACS), p 2017

Shava FB, Van Greunen D (2013) Factors affecting user experience with security features: a case study of an academic institution in Namibia. In: 2013 Information security for South Africa. IEEE, pp 1–8

Siponen MT (2000) A conceptual foundation for organizational information security awareness. Inf Manag Comput Secur 8(1):31–41

Ashenden D (2008) Information security management: a human challenge? Inf Secur Techn Rep 13(4):195–201

Download references

The authors would like to thank the financial support of the Ecuadorian Corporation for the Development of Research and Academy (RED CEDIA) for the development of this work, under Research Team GT-II-2018 (Cybersecurity). The research team was co-financed by the Research Department of the University of Cuenca (DIUC), Cuenca-Ecuador.

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Departamento de Eléctrica Electrónica y Telecomunicaciones, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador

Jorge Merchan-Lima & Fabian Astudillo-Salinas

College of Engineering, Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, Riobamba, Ecuador

Luis Tello-Oquendo

Departamento de Electrónica Telecomunicaciones y Redes de Información, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito, Ecuador

Franklin Sanchez & Gabriel Lopez-Fonseca

Facultad de Informática, Universidad Nacional de la Plata, La Plata, Argentina

Departamento de Ciencia de la Computación, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas, Quito, Ecuador

Dorys Quiroz

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fabian Astudillo-Salinas .

Additional information

Publisher’s note.

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Merchan-Lima, J., Astudillo-Salinas, F., Tello-Oquendo, L. et al. Information security management frameworks and strategies in higher education institutions: a systematic review. Ann. Telecommun. 76 , 255–270 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12243-020-00783-2

Download citation

Received : 17 February 2020

Accepted : 18 June 2020

Published : 25 July 2020

Issue Date : April 2021

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s12243-020-00783-2

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Higher education institution
• Information security
• Find a journal
• Publish with us
• Track your research

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

https://www.nist.gov/risk-management

Risk Management

More than ever, organizations must balance a rapidly evolving cybersecurity and privacy threat landscape against the need to fulfill business requirements on an enterprise level. Risk management underlies everything that NIST does in cybersecurity and privacy and is part of its full suite of standards and guidelines. To help organizations to specifically measure and manage their cybersecurity risk in a larger context, NIST has teamed with stakeholders in each of these efforts. Examples include:

Integrating Cybersecurity and Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)

The increasing frequency, creativity, and variety of cybersecurity attacks means that all enterprises should ensure cybersecurity and related information and communications technology risks receive the appropriate attention along with other risk disciplines – legal, financial, etc. – within their Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) programs. Enterprise Impact of Information and Communications Technology Risk: Governing and Managing ICT Risk Programs Within an Enterprise Risk Portfolio (NIST SP 800-221) is intended to help individual organizations within an enterprise improve their ICT risk management. This document explains the value of rolling up and integrating risks that may be addressed at lower system and organizational levels to the broader enterprise level by focusing on the use of ICT risk registers as input to the enterprise risk profile.

Another NIST publication, Integrating Cybersecurity and Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) (NIST IR 8286), promotes greater understanding of the relationship specifically between cybersecurity risk management and ERM, and the benefits of integrating those approaches. This document explains how the use of a risk register can assist enterprises and their component organizations to better identify, assess, communicate, and manage their cybersecurity risks in the context of their stated mission and business objectives using language and constructs already familiar to senior leaders.

NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)

The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) helps organizations to understand their cybersecurity risks (threats, vulnerabilities and impacts) and how to reduce those risks with customized measures. Initially intended for U.S. private-sector owners and operators of critical infrastructure, the voluntary Framework’s user base has grown dramatically across the nation and globe. The Framework integrates industry standards and best practices. It provides a common language that allows staff at all levels within an organization – and at all points in a supply chain – to develop a shared understanding of their cybersecurity risks. NIST worked with private-sector and government experts to create the Framework. Congress ratified it as a NIST responsibility in the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014 and a 2017 Executive Order directed federal agencies to use the Framework. The CSF’s five functions are used by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and many others as the organizing approach in reviewing how organizations assess and manage cybersecurity risks.

Risk Management Framework (RMF)

The Risk Management Framework (RMF) provides a flexible and tailorable seven-step process that integrates cybersecurity and privacy, along with supply chain risk management activities, into the system development life cycle. The NIST RMF links to a suite of NIST standards and guidelines to support implementation of risk management programs to meet the requirements of the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA), including control selection, implementation, assessment, and continuous monitoring. NIST updated the RMF to support privacy risk management and to incorporate key Cybersecurity Framework and systems engineering concepts. Originally targeted at federal agencies, today the RMF is also used widely by state and local agencies and private sector organizations.

Privacy Framework

The Privacy Framework: A Tool for Improving Privacy through Enterprise Risk Management was modeled after the NIST Cybersecurity Framework to enable organizations to use them together to manage cybersecurity and privacy risks collectively. This tool helps organizations to understand how their data processing activities may create privacy risks for individuals and provides the building blocks for the policies and technical capabilities necessary to manage these risks and build trust in their products and services while supporting compliance obligations. The framework provides a common language that allows staff at all levels within an organization – and throughout the data processing ecosystem – to develop a shared understanding of their privacy risks. NIST developed the voluntary framework in an open and public process with private-sector and public-sector experts.

Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM)

Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) helps organizations to manage the increasing risk of supply chain compromise related to cybersecurity, whether intentional or unintentional. These aspects of the supply chain include information technology (IT), operational technology (OT), Communications, Internet of Things (IoT), and Industrial IoT. NIST collaborates with public and private sector stakeholders to research and develop C-SCRM tools and metrics, producing case studies and widely used guidelines on mitigation strategies. NIST also convenes stakeholders to assist organizations in managing these risks.

Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework)

The Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework) provides a common lexicon for describing cybersecurity work. People are the primary attack vector for cybersecurity threats and managing human risks is key to strengthening an organization’s cybersecurity posture. The NICE Framework provides a set of building blocks that enable organizations to identify and develop the skills of those who perform cybersecurity work. It further helps learners explore cybersecurity work opportunities and engage in relevant learning activities to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to be job-ready.

NIST Calls for Information to Support Safe, Secure and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence

NIST Publishes Guide to Operational Technology (OT) Security

NIST Researchers Extend Model to Predict Minimum Investment for Optimum Cybersecurity Across Large, Weakly Connected Networks

Cyber risk management, also called cybersecurity risk management, is the process of identifying, prioritizing, managing and monitoring risks to information systems.  

Cyber risk management has become a vital part of broader enterprise risk management efforts. Companies across industries depend on information technology to carry out key business functions today, exposing them to cybercriminals, employee mistakes, natural disasters and other cybersecurity threats. These threats can knock critical systems offline or wreak havoc in other ways, leading to lost revenue, stolen data, long-term reputation damage and regulatory fines. 

These risks cannot be eliminated, but cyber risk management programs can help reduce the impact and likelihood of threats. Companies use the cybersecurity risk management process to pinpoint their most critical threats and select the right IT security measures to protect information systems from cyberattacks and other digital and physical threats based on their business priorities, IT infrastructures and resource levels.

Get insights to better manage the risk of a data breach with the latest Cost of a Data Breach report.

Assess your cyber risk to protect your business

It's difficult to evaluate cyber risk with total certainty. Companies rarely have full visibility into cybercriminals' tactics, their own network vulnerabilities or more unpredictable risks like severe weather and employee negligence. Plus, the same kinds of cyberattacks can have different consequences between companies. Data breaches in the healthcare sector cost USD 10.10 million on average, whereas breaches in hospitality cost USD 2.9 million, according to the IBM Cost of a Data Breach report.

For these reasons, authorities like the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) suggest approaching cyber risk management as an ongoing, iterative process rather than a one-time event. Revisiting the process regularly allows a company to incorporate new information and respond to new developments in the broader threat landscape and its own IT systems.

To ensure that risk decisions account for the priorities and experiences of the whole organization, the process is typically handled by a mix of stakeholders. Cyber risk management teams may include directors, executive leaders like the CEO and chief information security officer, IT and security team members, legal and HR and representatives from other business units. 

Companies can use many cyber risk management methodologies, including the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (NIST CSF) and the NIST Risk Management Framework (NIST RMF). While these methods differ slightly, they all follow a similar set of core steps.

Risk framing is the act of defining the context in which risk decisions are made. By framing risk at the outset, companies can align their risk management strategies with their overall business strategies. This alignment helps avoid ineffective and expensive mistakes, like deploying controls that interfere with key business functions. 

To frame risk, companies define things like the following:

The scope of the process: What systems and assets will be examined? What kinds of threats will be looked at? What timeline is the process working on (e.g., risks in the next six months, risks in the next year, etc.)?

Asset inventory and prioritization: What data, devices, software and other assets are in the network? Which of these assets are most critical to the organization?

Organizational resources and priorities: What IT systems and business processes are most important? What resources, financial and otherwise, will the company commit to cyber risk management?

Legal and regulatory requirements: What laws, standards or other mandates must the company comply with? 

These and other considerations give the company general guidelines when making risk decisions. They also help the company define its risk tolerance—that is, the kinds of risks it can accept and the kinds it cannot.

Companies use cybersecurity risk assessments to identify threats and vulnerabilities, estimate their potential impacts and prioritize the most critical risks.

How a company conducts a risk assessment will depend on the priorities, scope and risk tolerance defined in the framing step. Most assessments evaluate the following: 

Threats are people and events that could disrupt an IT system, steal data or otherwise compromise information security. Threats include intentional cyberattacks (like ransomware or phishing ) and employee mistakes (like storing confidential information in unsecured databases). Natural disasters, like earthquakes and hurricanes, can also threaten information systems.

Vulnerabilities are the flaws or weaknesses in a system, process or asset that threats can exploit to do damage. Vulnerabilities can be technical, like a misconfigured firewall that lets malware into a network or an operating system bug that hackers can use to take over a device remotely. Vulnerabilities can also arise from weak policies and processes, like a lax access control policy that lets people access more assets than they need.

Impacts are what a threat can do to a company. A cyberthreat could disrupt critical services, leading to downtime and lost revenue. Hackers could steal or destroy sensitive data. Scammers could use business email compromise attacks to trick employees into sending them money.

The impacts of a threat can spread beyond the organization. Customers who have their personally identifiable information stolen during a data breach are also victims of the attack.

Because it can be hard to quantify the exact impact of a cybersecurity threat, companies often use qualitative data like historical trends and stories of attacks on other organizations to estimate impact. Asset criticality is also a factor: The more critical an asset is, the more costly attacks against it will be.

Risk measures how likely a potential threat is to affect an organization and how much damage that threat would do. Threats that are likely to happen and likely to cause significant damage are the riskiest, while unlikely threats that would cause minor damage are the least risky.

During risk analysis, companies consider multiple factors to assess how likely a threat is. Existing security controls, the nature of IT vulnerabilities and the kinds of data a company holds can all influence threat likelihood. Even a company's industry can play a role: The X-Force Threat Intelligence Index found that organizations in the manufacturing and finance sectors face more cyberattacks than organizations in transportation and telecommunications.

Risk assessments can draw on internal data sources, like security information and event management (SIEM) systems, and external threat intelligence . They may also look at threats and vulnerabilities in the company's supply chain, as attacks on vendors can affect the company. 

By weighing all of these factors, the company can build its risk profile. A risk profile provides a catalog of the company's potential risks, prioritizing them based on criticality level. The riskier a threat is, the more critical it is to the organization. 

The company uses the risk assessment results to determine how it will respond to potential risks. Risks deemed highly unlikely, or low-impact risks, may simply be accepted, as investing in security measures may be more expensive than the risk itself.

Likely risks and risks with higher impacts will usually be addressed. Possible risk responses include the following:

Mitigation is the use of security controls that make it harder to exploit a vulnerability or minimize the impact of exploitation. Examples include placing an intrusion-prevention system around a valuable asset and implementing incident response  plans for quickly detecting and dealing with threats.

Remediation means fully addressing a vulnerability so it cannot be exploited. Examples include patching a software bug or retiring a vulnerable asset.

If mitigation and remediation aren't practical, a company may transfer responsibility for the risk to another party. Buying a cyber insurance policy is the most common way companies transfer risk.

The organization monitors its new security controls to verify that they work as intended and satisfy relevant regulatory requirements. 

The organization also monitors the broader threat landscape and its own IT ecosystem. Changes in either one—the emergence of new threats or the addition of new IT assets—can open up new vulnerabilities or make previously effective controls obsolete. By maintaining constant surveillance, the company can tweak its cybersecurity program and risk management strategy in nearly real time.

As companies have come to use technology for everything from day-to-day operations to business-critical processes, their IT systems have become larger and more complex. The explosion of cloud services, the rise of remote work and the growing reliance on third-party IT service providers have brought more people, devices and software into the average company's network. As an IT system grows, so does its attack surface . Cyber risk management initiatives offer companies a way to map and manage their shifting attack surfaces, improving security posture.

The broader threat landscape also evolves constantly. Every month, roughly 2,000 new vulnerabilities are added to the NIST National Vulnerability Database (link resides outside ibm.com). Thousands of new malware variants are detected monthly (link resides outside ibm.com)—and that's only one kind of cyberthreat. 

It would be unrealistic and financially impossible for a company to close every vulnerability and counter every threat. Cyber risk management can offer companies a more practical way of managing risk by focusing information security efforts on the threats and vulnerabilities most likely to impact them. That way, the company doesn't apply expensive controls to low-value and non-critical assets.

Cyber risk management initiatives can also help organizations comply with the General Data Protection Regulation, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard and other regulations. During the cyber risk management process, companies consider these standards when designing their security programs. Reports and data generated during the monitoring stage can help companies prove they did their due diligence during audits and post-breach investigations.

Sometimes, companies may be required to follow specific risk management frameworks. US federal agencies must adhere to both the NIST RMF and the NIST CSF. Federal contractors may also need to comply with these frameworks, as government contracts often use NIST standards to set cybersecurity requirements.

Outsmart attacks with a connected, modernized security suite. The QRadar portfolio is embedded with enterprise-grade AI and offers integrated products for endpoint security, log management, SIEM and SOAR—all with a common user interface, shared insights and connected workflows.

Proactive threat hunting, continuous monitoring and a deep investigation of threats are just a few of the priorities facing an already busy IT department. Having a trusted incident response team on standby can reduce your response time, minimize the impact of a cyberattack and help you recover faster.

Manage IT risk by establishing governance structures that increase cybersecurity maturity with an integrated governance, risk and compliance (GRC) approach.

Proactively protect your organization’s primary and secondary storage systems against ransomware, human error, natural disasters, sabotage, hardware failures and other data loss risks.

The Cost of a Data Breach report shares the latest insights into the expanding threat landscape and offers recommendations for how to save time and limit losses.

X-Force Threat Intelligence Index tracks threats and provides actionable insights that help you understand how threat actors are waging attacks, and how to proactively protect your organization.

Risk management is the process of identifying, assessing and controlling financial, legal, strategic and security risks to an organization’s capital and earnings.

Cybersecurity threats are becoming more advanced, more persistent and are demanding more effort by security analysts to sift through countless alerts and incidents. IBM Security QRadar SIEM helps you remediate threats faster while maintaining your bottom line. QRadar SIEM prioritizes high-fidelity alerts to help you catch threats that others miss.

• How it works

Useful Links

How much will your dissertation cost?

Have an expert academic write your dissertation paper!

Dissertation Services

Get unlimited topic ideas and a dissertation plan for just £45.00

Order topics and plan

Get 1 free topic in your area of study with aim and justification

Yes I want the free topic

Risk Management Dissertation Ideas

Published by Owen Ingram at January 2nd, 2023 , Revised On August 18, 2023

Identifying and assessing risks in various life situations is the focus of risk management dissertation topics. The key focus of risk management research topics is on risk prevention and risk mitigation. This field is growing in popularity among students every day because of the need for businesses and organisations to prevent and manage risks as part of their damage control strategies.

The decision of what to write about for your dissertation can be difficult. But there is no need to panic yet because you’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for risk management dissertation topics .

For Your Consideration, Here Are Some Excellent Risk Management Dissertation Ideas.

• Investigating the relationship between risk management and organizational performance.
• A review of the literature on the effects of decision support on risk management strategies in business contexts.
• How do insurance companies approach risk management in their organizations? Is it fair, or do some changes need to be made to improve it?
• Earthquake risk management should concentrate on potential barriers and opportunities.
• A descriptive analysis of the relationship between earthquake risk management and earthquake insurance.
• How social and environmental factors relate to risk management, either directly or indirectly.
• A review of empirical evidence on long-term risk management.
• Geotechnical risk management: a comparison of developed and developing countries.
• Investigating the guidelines and principles related to the risk management domain.
• The impact of the relationship between key individuals and business concepts, as well as the degree to which risk management tools are related.
• Investigating the connection between consumer safety and risk management.
• A quantitative study focuses on the factors for optimizing risk management in services.
• A detailed review of empirical evidence for a futuristic analysis of the risk management domain.
• Which of the following factors is a business’s most important risk management?
• Smart grid security risk management is a new area to research.
• Investigating the risk management strategies used in organizations in the UK.
• A correlational study of risk management and population health.
• Investigating the relationship between supply chain risk management and performance measurement.
• International comparison of traditional versus modern risk management strategies.
• A review of the literature on an international disaster risk management system.
• A descriptive analysis of risk management strategies in the pharmaceutical development industry.
• A correlational analysis of the relationship between risk perception and risk management.
• Focus on potential challenges and interventions in enterprise risk management.
• Risk management and big data in engineering and science projects.
• A review of empirical evidence on community-based disaster risk management.
• Portfolio risk management should emphasize the significance of six sigma quality principles.
• Using financial tools and operational methods to integrate supply chain risk management.
• Discovering risk management’s practical applications in Third World countries. Risk Management in a Supply Chain: How Have Current Trends in Global Supply Chain Management Influenced the Evolution of Risk-Management Strategies?
• Critical Success Factors for Financial Services Organizations Implementing an Operational Management System.

Nothing is more critical to a business than managing risks, whether large or small and bringing positive results to their customers. There is no doubt that the course will be interesting, and you will be able to find topics to write about using research methods such as diversity. Get expert assistance with your dissertation topics by placing an order for our dissertation topic and outline service today. You can take inspiration from the above-mentioned risk management dissertation ideas as well.

Free Dissertation Topic

Phone Number

Academic Level Select Academic Level Undergraduate Graduate PHD

Academic Subject

Area of Research

Frequently Asked Questions

How to find dissertation topics about risk management.

To find risk management dissertation topics:

• Study industry challenges.
• Explore emerging risks.
• Analyze case studies.
• Review risk frameworks.
• Consider regulatory changes.
• Select a specific risk aspect or sector that intrigues you.

You May Also Like

There is a rite of passage in selecting a dissertation topic in the academic world. A well-chosen subject may also lead to research questions that will keep one’s intellectual curiosity alive for years to come.

Need interesting and manageable Media dissertation topics or thesis? Here are the trending Operations Media dissertation titles so you can choose the most suitable one.

Need interesting and manageable Sexual Harassment of Women dissertation topics? Here are the trending Sexual Harassment of Women dissertation titles so you can choose the most suitable one.

USEFUL LINKS

LEARNING RESOURCES

COMPANY DETAILS

• How It Works

For enquiries call:

+1-469-442-0620

60+ Latest Cyber Security Research Topics in 2024

Home Blog Security 60+ Latest Cyber Security Research Topics in 2024

The concept of cybersecurity refers to cracking the security mechanisms that break in dynamic environments. Implementing Cyber Security Project topics and cybersecurity thesis topics helps overcome attacks and take mitigation approaches to security risks and threats in real-time. Undoubtedly, it focuses on events injected into the system, data, and the whole network to attack/disturb it.

The network can be attacked in various ways, including Distributed DoS, Knowledge Disruptions, Computer Viruses / Worms, and many more. Cyber-attacks are still rising, and more are waiting to harm their targeted systems and networks. Detecting Intrusions in cybersecurity has become challenging due to their Intelligence Performance. Therefore, it may negatively affect data integrity, privacy, availability, and security. 

This article aims to demonstrate the most current Cyber Security Topics for Projects and areas of research currently lacking. We will talk about cyber security research questions, cyber security topics for the project, latest research titles about cyber security.

List of Trending Cyber Security Research Topics in 2024

Digital technology has revolutionized how all businesses, large or small, work, and even governments manage their day-to-day activities, requiring organizations, corporations, and government agencies to utilize computerized systems. To protect data against online attacks or unauthorized access, cybersecurity is a priority. There are many Cyber Security Courses online where you can learn about these topics. With the rapid development of technology comes an equally rapid shift in Cyber Security Research Topics and cybersecurity trends, as data breaches, ransomware, and hacks become almost routine news items. In 2024, these will be the top cybersecurity trends.

A. Exciting Mobile Cyber Security Research Paper Topics

• The significance of continuous user authentication on mobile gadgets. 
• The efficacy of different mobile security approaches. 
• Detecting mobile phone hacking. 
• Assessing the threat of using portable devices to access banking services. 
• Cybersecurity and mobile applications. 
• The vulnerabilities in wireless mobile data exchange. 
• The rise of mobile malware. 
• The evolution of Android malware.
• How to know you’ve been hacked on mobile. 
• The impact of mobile gadgets on cybersecurity. 

B. Top Computer and Software Security Topics to Research

• Learn algorithms for data encryption 
• Concept of risk management security 
• How to develop the best Internet security software 
• What are Encrypting Viruses- How does it work? 
• How does a Ransomware attack work? 
• Scanning of malware on your PC 
• Infiltrating a Mac OS X operating system 
• What are the effects of RSA on network security ? 
• How do encrypting viruses work?
• DDoS attacks on IoT devices 

C. Trending Information Security Research Topics

• Why should people avoid sharing their details on Facebook? 
• What is the importance of unified user profiles? 
• Discuss Cookies and Privacy  
• White hat and black hat hackers 
• What are the most secure methods for ensuring data integrity? 
• Talk about the implications of Wi-Fi hacking apps on mobile phones 
• Analyze the data breaches in 2024
• Discuss digital piracy in 2024
• critical cyber-attack concepts 
• Social engineering and its importance 

D. Current Network Security Research Topics

• Data storage centralization
• Identify Malicious activity on a computer system. 
• Firewall 
• Importance of keeping updated Software  
• wireless sensor network 
• What are the effects of ad-hoc networks  
• How can a company network be safe? 
• What are Network segmentation and its applications? 
• Discuss Data Loss Prevention systems  
• Discuss various methods for establishing secure algorithms in a network. 
• Talk about two-factor authentication

E. Best Data Security Research Topics

• Importance of backup and recovery 
• Benefits of logging for applications 
• Understand physical data security 
• Importance of Cloud Security 
• In computing, the relationship between privacy and data security 
• Talk about data leaks in mobile apps 
• Discuss the effects of a black hole on a network system. 

F. Important Application Security Research Topics

• Detect Malicious Activity on Google Play Apps 
• Dangers of XSS attacks on apps 
• Discuss SQL injection attacks. 
• Insecure Deserialization Effect 
• Check Security protocols 

G. Cybersecurity Law & Ethics Research Topics

• Strict cybersecurity laws in China 
• Importance of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act. 
• USA, UK, and other countries' cybersecurity laws  
• Discuss The Pipeline Security Act in the United States 

H. Recent Cyberbullying Topics

• Protecting your Online Identity and Reputation 
• Online Safety 
• Sexual Harassment and Sexual Bullying 
• Dealing with Bullying 
• Stress Center for Teens 

I. Operational Security Topics

• Identify sensitive data 
• Identify possible threats 
• Analyze security threats and vulnerabilities 
• Appraise the threat level and vulnerability risk 
• Devise a plan to mitigate the threats 

J. Cybercrime Topics for a Research Paper

• Crime Prevention. 
• Criminal Specialization. 
• Drug Courts. 
• Criminal Courts. 
• Criminal Justice Ethics. 
• Capital Punishment.
• Community Corrections. 
• Criminal Law. 

Cyber Security Future Research Topics

• Developing more effective methods for detecting and responding to cyber attacks
• Investigating the role of social media in cyber security
• Examining the impact of cloud computing on cyber security
• Investigating the security implications of the Internet of Things
• Studying the effectiveness of current cyber security measures
• Identifying new cyber security threats and vulnerabilities
• Developing more effective cyber security policies
• Examining the ethical implications of cyber security

Cyber Security Topics For Research Paper

• Cyber security threats and vulnerabilities
• Cyber security incident response and management
• Cyber security risk management
• Cyber security awareness and training
• Cyber security controls and countermeasures
• Cyber security governance
• Cyber security standards
• Cyber security insurance
• Cyber security and the law
• The future of cyber security

5 Current Research Topics in Cybersecurity

Below are the latest 5 cybersecurity research topics. They are:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Digital Supply Chains
• Internet of Things
• State-Sponsored Attacks
• Working From Home

Research Area in Cyber Security

The field of cyber security is extensive and constantly evolving. Its research covers a wide range of subjects, including: 

• Quantum & Space  
• Data Privacy  
• Criminology & Law 
• AI & IoT Security
• RFID Security
• Authorisation Infrastructure
• Digital Forensics
• Autonomous Security
• Social Influence on Social Networks

How to Choose the Best Research Topics in Cyber Security

A good cybersecurity assignment heading is a skill that not everyone has, and unfortunately, not everyone has one. You might have your teacher provide you with the topics, or you might be asked to come up with your own. If you want more research topics, you can take references from Certified Ethical Hacker Certification, where you will get more hints on new topics. If you don't know where to start, here are some tips. Follow them to create compelling cybersecurity assignment topics. 

1. Brainstorm

In order to select the most appropriate heading for your cybersecurity assignment, you first need to brainstorm ideas. What specific matter do you wish to explore? In this case, come up with relevant topics about the subject and select those relevant to your issue when you use our list of topics. You can also go to cyber security-oriented websites to get some ideas. Using any blog post on the internet can prove helpful if you intend to write a research paper on security threats in 2024. Creating a brainstorming list with all the keywords and cybersecurity concepts you wish to discuss is another great way to start. Once that's done, pick the topics you feel most comfortable handling. Keep in mind to stay away from common topics as much as possible. 

2. Understanding the Background

In order to write a cybersecurity assignment, you need to identify two or three research paper topics. Obtain the necessary resources and review them to gain background information on your heading. This will also allow you to learn new terminologies that can be used in your title to enhance it. 

3. Write a Single Topic

Make sure the subject of your cybersecurity research paper doesn't fall into either extreme. Make sure the title is neither too narrow nor too broad. Topics on either extreme will be challenging to research and write about. 

4. Be Flexible

There is no rule to say that the title you choose is permanent. It is perfectly okay to change your research paper topic along the way. For example, if you find another topic on this list to better suit your research paper, consider swapping it out. 

The Layout of Cybersecurity Research Guidance

It is undeniable that usability is one of cybersecurity's most important social issues today. Increasingly, security features have become standard components of our digital environment, which pervade our lives and require both novices and experts to use them. Supported by confidentiality, integrity, and availability concerns, security features have become essential components of our digital environment.  

In order to make security features easily accessible to a wider population, these functions need to be highly usable. This is especially true in this context because poor usability typically translates into the inadequate application of cybersecurity tools and functionality, resulting in their limited effectiveness. 

Writing Tips from Expert

Additionally, a well-planned action plan and a set of useful tools are essential for delving into Cyber Security Research Topics. Not only do these topics present a vast realm of knowledge and potential innovation, but they also have paramount importance in today's digital age. Addressing the challenges and nuances of these research areas will contribute significantly to the global cybersecurity landscape, ensuring safer digital environments for all. It's crucial to approach these topics with diligence and an open mind to uncover groundbreaking insights.

• Before you begin writing your research paper, make sure you understand the assignment. 
• Your Research Paper Should Have an Engaging Topic 
• Find reputable sources by doing a little research 
• Precisely state your thesis on cybersecurity 
• A rough outline should be developed 
• Finish your paper by writing a draft 
• Make sure that your bibliography is formatted correctly and cites your sources. 

Discover the Power of ITIL 4 Foundation - Unleash the Potential of Your Business with this Cost-Effective Solution. Boost Efficiency, Streamline Processes, and Stay Ahead of the Competition. Learn More!

Studies in the literature have identified and recommended guidelines and recommendations for addressing security usability problems to provide highly usable security. The purpose of such papers is to consolidate existing design guidelines and define an initial core list that can be used for future reference in the field of Cyber Security Research Topics.

The researcher takes advantage of the opportunity to provide an up-to-date analysis of cybersecurity usability issues and evaluation techniques applied so far. As a result of this research paper, researchers and practitioners interested in cybersecurity systems who value human and social design elements are likely to find it useful. You can find KnowledgeHut’s Cyber Security courses online and take maximum advantage of them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Businesses and individuals are changing how they handle cybersecurity as technology changes rapidly - from cloud-based services to new IoT devices. 

Ideally, you should have read many papers and know their structure, what information they contain, and so on if you want to write something of interest to others. 

The field of cyber security is extensive and constantly evolving. Its research covers various subjects, including Quantum & Space, Data Privacy, Criminology & Law, and AI & IoT Security. 

Inmates having the right to work, transportation of concealed weapons, rape and violence in prison, verdicts on plea agreements, rehab versus reform, and how reliable are eyewitnesses? 

Mrinal Prakash

I am a B.Tech Student who blogs about various topics on cyber security and is specialized in web application security

Avail your free 1:1 mentorship session.

Something went wrong

Upcoming Cyber Security Batches & Dates

Related Projects

View All Projects

Related Events

View All Events

Related News

View All News

Related Publications

View All Publications

Related Presentations

View All Presentations

• digital signatures
• key management
• lightweight cryptography
• message authentication
• post-quantum cryptography
• random number generation
• secure hashing
• cybersecurity supply chain risk management
• general security & privacy
• access authorization
• access control
• Personal Identity Verification
• public key infrastructure
• personally identifiable information
• privacy engineering
• categorization
• continuous monitoring
• controls assessment
• privacy controls
• security controls
• roots of trust
• system authorization
• advanced persistent threats
• information sharing
• intrusion detection & prevention
• vulnerability management
• accessibility
• testing & validation
• acquisition
• asset management
• audit & accountability
• awareness training & education
• configuration management
• contingency planning
• incident response
• maintenance
• media protection
• patch management
• personnel security
• physical & environmental protection
• program management
• security automation
• reliability
• artificial intelligence
• cloud & virtualization
• combinatorial testing
• personal computers
• quantum information science
• smart cards
• operating systems
• communications & wireless
• cyber-physical systems
• cybersecurity education
• cybersecurity framework
• cybersecurity workforce
• industrial control systems
• Internet of Things
• mathematics
• positioning navigation & timing
• small & medium business
• Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative
• Cybersecurity Strategy and Implementation Plan
• Cyberspace Policy Review
• Executive Order 13636
• Executive Order 13702
• Executive Order 13718
• Executive Order 13800
• Executive Order 13905
• Executive Order 14028
• Executive Order 14110
• Federal Cybersecurity Research and Development Strategic Plan
• Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7
• Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12
• OMB Circular A-11
• OMB Circular A-130
• Cyber Security R&D Act
• Cybersecurity Enhancement Act
• E-Government Act
• Energy Independence and Security Act
• Federal Information Security Modernization Act
• First Responder Network Authority
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
• Help America Vote Act
• Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act
• Federal Acquisition Regulation
• annual reports
• conferences & workshops
• quick start guides
• reference materials
• standards development
• financial services
• hospitality
• manufacturing
• public safety
• telecommunications
• transportation

Research Security and Risk Management

Data is central to research, innovation, and opportunity. However, all data, including research data, also carries risk. By appropriately managing your research data—and its inherent risks—you can help keep your project on track and avoid legal and regulatory penalties.

A simple research data security plan complements your data management plan and demonstrates your due diligence in planning for and managing risks to your project data.

To streamline the planning process and help you allocate more of your time to conducting research, use the Secure UD Research Security Plan Tool . This easy-to-use tool asks a series of yes/no questions that walks you through relevant risks and produces a self-documenting security plan for managing them. Creating your research data security plan takes less than an hour, and your finished plan is a valuable resource for protecting your work.

Secure UD Managing Research Data Risks complements the Secure UD Research Security Plan tool and the information on this page. It provides succinct summaries of the types of risk you may encounter and tips for managing those risks.

You can also contact IT Security for a consultation about research data risk and for assistance in incorporating risk management strategies into your data management plan, security plan, and research practices.

Type of risk

Does it apply to you?

Physical asset risk

How will you manage devices and paper documents containing project data?

Physical assets include...

• desktop and laptop computers
• mobile devices (smartphones and tablets)
• removable storage media
• paper documents

Every project involves some number of physical assets necessary for project activities. All of these assets facilitate the completion of your project, but they and the data they contain must be managed and protected appropriately.

Confidentiality risk

Will your project involve any data that has restrictions on who can view or access it?

Do you have any data that...

• can only be disclosed to authorized parties?
• is required by law, regulation, or contract to remain confidential?
• is sensitive by nature and would have a negative impact if disclosed?
• would be valuable to hackers, corporate spies, foreign intelligence, etc.?

Data confidentiality is about protecting data against unintentional, unlawful, or unauthorized access, disclosure, or theft.

Integrity risk

Will your project involve any data that, if not maintained with integrity, would significantly impact the accuracy or feasibility of the study?

• must remain accurate and uncorrupted?
• must only be modified by certain individuals or in a controlled manner?
• must come only from trusted sources?

Data integrity is about protecting data against improper maintenance, modification, of alteration. It includes data accuracy and authenticity.

Availability risk

Will your project involve any data that, if lost, stolen, or destroyed, would be irreplaceable or would significantly impact the feasibility of the study?

• must remain available or accessible during the project?
• must remain available or accessible after the project is complete?
• cannot be easily re-obtained or re-created?

Data availability is about the timeliness and reliability of access to and use of data. It includes data accessibility.

Privacy risk

Will your project involve any data that, either by itself or in combination with publicly available information, has the potential to violate privacy expectations or individuals?

• involves human subjects?
• has explicit legal or regulatory privacy protection requirements?
• is sensitive, or has the potential to be sensitive if combined with other information?

Data privacy is about respecting individuals' reasonable expectations to be free from unreasonable observation and excessive collection or use of personal data (what is being observed and how it is being used).

Privacy risks apply to projects involving human-related data, such as data related to individual's behavior, medical records, or learning patterns. Some projects may not involve data with privacy-related risks.

Legal, regulatory, and contractual risk

Will your project involve any data that is subject to legal, regulatory, or contractual requirements?

• is subject to laws or regulations (e.g., FERPA, HIPAA, Common Rule)?
• is provided to you under a contract or agreement?
• is subject to grant or contract restrictions or security requirements?

Data laws and regulations govern the handling of particularly sensitive kinds of information and may present the risk of fines, funding loss, or even imprisonment. Health data, education records, defense articles, and other data present legal and regulatory risk that goes hand-in-hand with other risks like confidentiality, privacy, human, etc.

Sponsored research agreements may specify data security standards and requirements that must be followed during or after the study. Data contracts may govern how data from a particular source or generated by a particular contract can be used or what rights researchers acquire to that data.

Is every member of your team, including you, aware of data risk and security?

Is your team...

• aware of their responsibility for security?
• aware of security best practices?
• watchful for unusual behavior that may indicate data theft?

Human risk includes human vulnerability to social engineering, awareness of security practices, and insider threats.