Security Engineering

Jazmine Curry 

Old Dominion University 

CYSE 201S

Professor Yalpi 

November 24, 2024

Social Science Principles

Security engineers are essentially technical specialists, but in order to properly create, implement, and manage systems that take organizational structure, societal aspects, and human behavior into consideration, they need and rely on social science research and ideas. Technologies that deal with users on a daily basis are designed by security engineers. Engineers can learn more about how people use technology, what drives safe conduct, and what causes unsafe behavior by studying social science research, especially from behavioral economics and psychology. For example, Resistance to Phishing Engineers can better comprehend how attackers take advantage of authority and trust by studying social science research. Systems that identify questionable connections or instruct users during encounters are designed with this information in sight. To make sure their systems don’t unintentionally hurt users or go against social standards, security engineers rely on ethics, an aspect of social science. The actual use of behavioral analytics in security engineering relies on sociological and psychological understanding. Systems that identify abnormalities in user behavior are created by engineers. With combining social science research on attack motives and methods, behavioral profiles assist engineers in anticipating and defeating unexpected attack attempts.

Classroom Concepts

In class we discovered all types of concepts that are applied to security engineers. We talked about human behavior, since individuals are frequently the most vulnerable link in the security framework, human behavior is crucial to cybersecurity. Security engineers can create systems that take these traits into consideration by taking coursework on psychological theory and cognitive biases, which offer knowledge about how people think and make choices. We studied risk management in class, we talked about how groups and also just ourselves could evaluate risk and make choices all through risk management. Another topic discussed in class that is related to security engineering is ethics. Ethics ensures that technological infrastructures are transparent and private, which helps security engineers make sure their ideas are not violating users’ rights or causing harm. The foundation of security engineering is an understanding of cryptography. Subjects including digital identities, public key infrastructure, and symmetric versus asymmetric encryption

Marginalization Groups Relates 

The issues that marginalized groups experience are closely related to security engineering, especially when it comes to resolving inequalities in the digital environment and promoting fair access to technology. Technologies must be designed with a variety of user demands in mind by security engineers, especially for groups that have less access to safe technology. Assuring accessibility for languages that are not native and customizing solutions for small companies in poor areas, which frequently lack the funds for high-tech safety measures (Reventlow, 2021).  Cybersecurity dangers like ransomware attacks against disadvantaged structures, including minority-serving organizations or schools in areas with low incomes, disproportionately impact marginalized communities. Valuable personal information is frequently made public by these attacks, which can worsen current gaps and affect prospects for school or employment (Anthony, 2023). Attempts for diversity into security engineering are advantageous to the larger digital ecosystem as well as marginalized communities. Security engineers help build a more secure and just digital future by tackling these issues.

Connection to Society

Since security engineering offers the technological framework and protections required to preserve functioning, privacy, and trust in a world that is becoming more digital, it is closely related to society. The increasing integration of technology into daily life requires people to have faith in the security of systems. By encouraging and maintaining this trust, security engineering makes it possible for technologies like smart gadgets, e-commerce, and online banking to continue to be used. Defending digital assets is only one aspect of security engineering; other goals include upholding social order, enabling growth, and ensuring the safety and freedoms of both individuals and communities. Beyond just creating hardware or software, security engineers also have an impact on society structures by protecting vital systems including financial organizations, healthcare systems, and electrical grids. As a result, security engineering has a significant social influence. Engineers and cybersecurity specialists help to preserve confidence in digital structures, which are so essential to modern life, by working to protect systems. In order to prevent harm and create a safe environment for upcoming technology advancements, ethical security measures are essential (Leopold, 2018). For instance, security experts play a key role in protecting privacy and personal information by securing the information we exchange online. Cybercrimes like money laundering, identity theft, and hacking would increase in frequency without this knowledge, damaging public confidence in digital platforms and technologies.

References 

Anthony, A. (2023, March 13). Cyber resilience must focus on marginalized individuals, not just institutions. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2023/03/cyber-resilience-must-focus-on-marginalized-individuals-not-just-institutions?lang=en 

Leopold, D. (2018, February 2). Why security is one of the biggest engineering challenges ahead. itemis Blog. https://blogs.itemis.com/en/why-security-is-one-of-the-biggest-engineering-challenges-ahead 

Reventlow, N. J. (2021, July 8). Why tech needs to focus on the needs of marginalized groups. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2021/07/tech-focus-needs-marginalized-groups/