What is Cybersecurity and the Social Sciences?
Cybersecurity is not just a technical field, but also a social one. To understand how they interact with one another, one must first understand the basics of each.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity focuses on protecting systems, networks, and data from all kinds of cyber related threats. It involves certain technical aspects such as encryption, network security, penetration testing, and finally incident response. Human factors, however, also play a tremendous role in security, from social engineering attacks to policy making.
Social Sciences
Social sciences study human behavior, societies, and institutions. The different social sciences include: Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Criminology, and Economics. Each one playing an important role in understanding overall human behaviors and actions.
The way Social Sciences and Cybersecurity come together:
Psychology: Understanding how people interact with technology, why they are so prone to falling for phishing attacks, and how to design a system that encourages secure online behavior.
Sociology: Examining how cyber threats can affect different social groups, digital inequalities, and the role of online communities in security.
Political Science: Influence on cybersecurity policies, international cyber warfare, and the role that the governments take in regulating and protecting digital spaces.
Criminology: Studying cybercriminal behaviors, motivations, and how law enforcement can be used to counter different cyber threats.
Economics: Evaluating the financial impact of cybercrime, cybersecurity investments, and the cost-benefit analysis of better security measures.
Sources:
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2017). Foundational Cybersecurity Research: Improving Science, Engineering, and Institutions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
Bernik, I. (2023). Teaching Social Science Aspects of Information Security. Proceedings of the 22nd European Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security.