A4 Article in conference proceedings
New Insights into the Justifiability of Organizational Information Security Policy Noncompliance : A Case Study (2022)

Soliman, W., & Mohammadnazar, H. (2022). New Insights into the Justifiability of Organizational Information Security Policy Noncompliance : A Case Study. In Proceedings of the 55th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS 2022) (pp. 6812-6821). University of Hawai'i at Manoa. Proceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences. https://doi.org/10.24251/HICSS.2022.823

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Soliman, Wael; Mohammadnazar, Hojat

Parent publication: Proceedings of the 55th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS 2022)

Conference:

Place and date of conference: Maui, HI, USA, 3.-7.1.2022

eISBN: 978-0-9981331-5-7

Journal or series: Proceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences

ISSN: 1530-1605

eISSN: 2572-6862

Publication year: 2022

Pages range: 6812-6821

Publisher: University of Hawai'i at Manoa

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24251/HICSS.2022.823

Persistent website address: http://hdl.handle.net/10125/80163

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/79384

Abstract

Information security policies as apparatus for communicating security principles with employees are the cornerstone of organizational information security. Resultantly, extant literature has looked at different theories to better understand the noncompliance problem. Neutralization theory is emerging as one of the most popular approaches, not only as an explanation but also as a solution. In this in-depth qualitative study, we ask the question ‘how do employees justify violating the ISP’? Our findings reveal nine rationalizing techniques, three of which have not been recognized in previous research. We label them ‘I follow my own rules’, ‘matter of mere legality’ and ‘defense of uniqueness’. But more importantly, our in-depth insights point to the danger of taking these rationalizations out of context, since without context, it becomes impossible to judge whether the behavior or the rule, needs correcting, reflecting a dilemma recognized in the original writing of neutralization theory, which has since been forgotten.

Keywords: data protection; data security; organisations (systems); employees; attitudes

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

JUFO rating: 1