Cybersecurity Analysts and the Role of Social Science Research
Jalen Walker
201S Cybersecurity & Social Science
Professor Yalpi
13 April 2025
Introduction
The responsibility of cybersecurity analysts is enormous to protect digital infrastructures from many threats; however, a cybersecurity analyst’s job is all about more than technical proficiency itself. This requires knowledge of human behavior, social impacts and vulnerabilities of marginalized populations, and therefore application of social science theory and research is necessary. This study examines the reliance of cybersecurity analysts on social science, their interactions with marginalized communities, and the social implications of their work more broadly.
Social Science Principles in Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity analysis is based on the social science principles which accounts for human behavior in the cyber environment. Turnsek (2024) points out that concepts such as relativism make analysts aware of the fact that very small variations in user behavior can lead to major security weaknesses. For example, employees could adopt new work-from-home practices, which also bring new unplanned security gaps that are opened up by hackers. However, this practice allows analysts to foresee the risks beyond technicality.
A crucial observation for cybersecurity practitioners is yielded by determinism. Turnsek (2024) states that analysts use deterministic models in connecting security incidents with specific human choices and social elements. For example, a data breach is not an outcome of software flaws, but probably the result of organizational stress leading to poor security practices. Such an observation helps analysts to make more efficient, human centric security solutions than just focusing on technical solutions.
According to Davis (2024), cybersecurity analysts employ social psychology in order to combat phishing and social engineering threats. The reason such attacks work is that they capitalize on predictable human reaction to authority, urgency and familiarity. This gives an insight into psychological triggers, which can then be used to design more effective training and system defenses. This social science insight is essential because the human element is the most vulnerable component of most security systems.
Interaction with Marginalized Groups
For analysts, marginalized communities are especially vulnerable to cyber threats with disproportionate impact. Turnsek (2024) notes that groups less exposed to technology or more ‘digital illiterate’ are often seen as a priority exploitation target. Scams and identity theft are easy to target against older adults, low income groups and non native speakers who may not be aware of the prevalent cyber threats. These inequalities mean that cybersecurity analysts must develop broad policy protection mechanisms.
Security vulnerabilities are very much dependent on cultural factors. Davis (2024) describes how some of the marginalized groups are being targeted in attacks because of their social position or historical discrimination. For example, LGBTQ+ communities may be victims of blackmail attempts or of harassment campaigns. However, the populations to which these analysts are working must be understood and culturally appropriate safeguards developed by the cybersecurity analysts. It also requires working together with the community organizations and social service providers.
As Carley (2020) observes, disinformation campaigns are especially designed to divide marginalised groups. Mischievous players normally spread fake accounts during the elections or in a crisis to foment greater tensions among racial minorities or groups of religion. These coordinated influence operations and their harm are being detected by cybersecurity analysts who are important in mitigating the harm. Through their work, they help protect not only individuals but social cohesion in broader terms.
Societal Impact and Broader Implications
The role of cybersecurity analysts has a significant impact on society. In her recent article, Carley (2020) describes the emerging field of social cybersecurity that studies the impacts of digital threats on social and political outcomes. This field is contributed to by the analysts looking at disinformation networks, identifying manipulation tactics and coming up with possible countermeasures. They contribute in saving democratic processes and facilitating public trust in digital systems.
Organizational norms and culture exist among cybersecurity experts. According to Davis (2024), analysts create workplace behaviors through training programs and policy development. They encourage better security practices in their entire institutions through the application of behavioral economics and organizational psychology principles. Indeed, this idea of putting culture ahead of technical defense is equally important as it is in cybersecurity work.
According to Turnsek (2024), cybersecurity analysts have the ethical responsibilities of working towards marginalized populations. It’s important that professionals do not inadvertently exclude or disadvantage vulnerable groups in securing their measures. For example, certain demographics may fail to be accommodated by biometric authentication systems unless designed properly. The perspective of a social science analyst helps the analyst predict and address these issues of equity.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity professionals use social science to address human vulnerabilities, protect marginalized groups, and enhance security for society. They create systems incorporating values such as relativism, and DEI capable of including cultural and behavioral trends. Multidisciplinary engagement will continue to be the fundamental way of securing cyber environments for emerging cybersecurity threats.
References
Carley, K. M. (2020). Social cybersecurity: An emerging science. Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, 26(4), 365–381. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10588-020-09322-9