BLUF

As technology advances, the importance of cybersecurity continues to grow with it. For
this paper, we were told to choose a cybersecurity career that we liked and examine how
professionals in this field rely on social science research and social science principles in those
careers. I decided to write my paper on cybersecurity specialists working for the military as a
civilian because this is a job that I am very interested in and want to know more about. Civilian
cybersecurity specialists working for the military protect and navigate through sensitive
information systems, and work with complex human factors that influence security threats.
These professionals rely on social science to better understand user behavior, prepare for
possible insider threats, and address inclusivity issues and societal impact, particularly
concerning marginalized groups.

How cybersecurity specialists rely on social science research

Social science principles that I feel apply to this career are behavioral analysis,
organizational culture and communication, and ethics. Civilian cybersecurity specialists in
military environments often utilize sociological and psychological research to identify common
patterns that may expose cyber threats. The concept of “insider threats” (where individuals
within the organization pose a risk) is a good example to show how it is deeply rooted in
behavioral science. According to Greitzer and Frincke (2010), understanding personality traits,
stress factors, and behavioral anomalies helps predict and prevent insider attacks. This comes
directly from social science methodologies such as case studies ,surveys, and observational research. Secondly, organizational culture and communication are utilized to navigate
hierarchical and culturally diverse environments. Social science principles such as cultural
competency and organizational behavior help these professionals understand and use various
communication styles and decision-making processes. Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory
can be applied to work more effectively with international teams or allied forces (Hofstede,
Hofstede, & Minkov, 2010). This understanding aids in creating cybersecurity protocols that are
culturally sensitive and universally enforceable which improves overall effectiveness.
Furthermore, the use of ethics in social science research can be used to inform how
cybersecurity policies are enforced and created. Civilian professionals must balance national
security interests with individual privacy rights. Ethical considerations such as data protection,
consent, and surveillance are all crucial. Applying ethical theories helps to guide
decision-making in areas such as monitoring employee activity or intercepting communications
(Taddeo & Floridi, 2018).

How cybersecurity specialists interacts with marginalized groups

Working with marginalized communities is an important part of the cybersecurity field
that helps us see that it’s not just about building strong defenses, it’s also about making sure
those defenses are fair and don’t unintentionally harm certain groups. Research has shown that
facial recognition software often struggles to accurately identify non-white faces, which can lead
to false matches and discriminatory outcomes. By staying informed about these issues through
social science research, cybersecurity professionals can help push for more equitable
technology and better testing standards that work for everyone. Also, I realized that civilian
cybersecurity experts are often involved in community outreach and education, especially in
diverse military communities which I found to be interesting. They may work with schools, local
governments, or non-profits to teach proper cyber hygiene and digital literacy, helping bridge the digital divide. This aspect of their role shows the social responsibility that comes with their work
and reflects the broader social impact of cybersecurity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this career paper on cybersecurity specialists made me see that
cybersecurity tends to focus solely on the technical side of things—but there’s another critical
piece that shouldn’t be overlooked which is the influence of social science . For military-civilian
cybersecurity specialists, everyday decisions and ethical judgments are shaped just as much by
human behavior and cultural understanding as by code and hardware. Whether it’s analyzing
navigating ethical gray areas patterns of behavior, or ensuring that digital tools serve diverse
communities fairly, social science plays a quiet but essential role. It’s necessary to build security
strategies that are not only effective but also responsible and inclusive.

References

Greitzer, F. L., & Frincke, D. A. (2010). Combining traditional cyber security audit data with
psychosocial data: Towards predictive modeling for insider threat mitigation. In C. W. Probst, J.
Hunker, D. Gollmann, & M. Bishop (Eds.), Insider threats in cyber security (pp. 85–113).
Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7133-3_5
Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G. J., & Minkov, M. (2010). Cultures and organizations: Software of the
mind (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill.
Taddeo, M., & Floridi, L. (2018). How AI can be a force for good. Science, 361(6404), 751–752.
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aat5991