{"id":138,"date":"2024-09-06T01:33:10","date_gmt":"2024-09-06T01:33:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/cyberimpact1\/?page_id=138"},"modified":"2025-12-05T04:41:50","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T04:41:50","slug":"cyse-368","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/turnerasia\/cyse-368\/","title":{"rendered":"Career Paper"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0Cybersecurity is most commonly viewed as a technical field\u00a0but,\u00a0social science research has played a major role in how cybersecurity professionals understand people, behavior, and\u00a0the society. One career that depends heavily on this research is the Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst. SOC Analysts\u00a0monitor\u00a0systems, respond to incidents, and analyze threats. A good part of their job\u00a0is about\u00a0understanding the humans behind the attacks and the users they protect.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Through a social science lens, cybersecurity is deeply connected to human behavior. As we have learned in\u00a0previous\u00a0modules, many security breaches happen because of social engineering. This suggests that a large part of hacking is more about tricking people than it is hacking systems. (Hadnagy, 2018) SOC analysts use principles from both psychology and sociology to recognize patterns in phishing, insider threats, and other manipulative tactics. For example, research on cognitive bias helps analysts understand why users click suspicious links or reuse passwords. Knowing how people think under pressure allows analysts to design more effective security awareness campaigns and response strategies.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Another major connection between social science and cybersecurity is ethics and how they play into decision-making.\u00a0Analysts come across questions about ethics on a day-to-day basis.\u00a0Questions that may arise could be around how much data is\u00a0appropriate to\u00a0monitor\u00a0or at what point to raise a red flag for suspicious behavior. Social science frameworks, including ethics and social responsibility, help analysts balance goals with privacy and fairness. (Anderson, 2020) These decisions are especially important when\u00a0monitoring\u00a0employees or handling sensitive user data.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cybersecurity also has the ability to reveal broader social inequalities.\u00a0Not everyone has equal access to secure technology or digital training.\u00a0SOC analysts and other professionals have to be aware of how cybersecurity policies can unintentionally disadvantage marginalized groups.\u00a0For instance, by using biased algorithms that flag certain communities more often or by designing systems inaccessible to people with disabilities. (Nissenbaum, 2004) Social science research on inequality and equal representation helps professionals create more inclusive and equal cybersecurity practices.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In everyday work, SOC analysts use both technical and social understanding. They rely on teamwork, communication, and emotional intelligence to coordinate with other IT staff and explain threats to non-technical users. These are all social science skills.\u00a0During\u00a0an incident response, analysts must interpret\u00a0technical data\u00a0while also considering\u00a0the human factors such as, who\u00a0made the mistake, how stress or culture influenced the event, and how to rebuild trust afterward.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Overall, social science is essential for cybersecurity careers because it connects technology with humanity. A SOC Analyst who understands social behavior, ethics, and inequality can protect\u00a0systems more effectively and fairly.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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References\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Anderson, R. (2020). Security Engineering: A Guide to Building Dependable Distributed Systems. Wiley.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hadnagy, C. (2018). Social Engineering: The Science of Human Hacking. Wiley.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nissenbaum, H. (2004). \u201cPrivacy as Contextual Integrity.\u201d Washington Law Review, 79(1), 119\u2013158.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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