The Repository @ St. Cloud State

Open Access Knowledge and Scholarship

Date of Award

12-2024

Culminating Project Type

Starred Paper

Styleguide

apa

Degree Name

Information Assurance: M.S.

Department

Information Assurance and Information Systems

College

Herberger School of Business

First Advisor

Susantha Herath

Second Advisor

Erich Rice

Third Advisor

Akalanka Mailewa

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Keywords and Subject Headings

Data Breach, Data Breach Prevention, Security Policies, Security Awareness

Abstract

Data breaches in organizations have increased, presenting critical concerns involving financial loss, credibility, and reputational damage. This research analyzes data breaches across various sectors and proposes effective preventive measures. Using a comparative study design, the research investigates data management procedures, employee data access, and security awareness programs in different organizations across the United States. The research methodology uses a mix of qualitative and quantitative questionnaires, with 101 participants primarily from Minnesota. The research identifies the need for enhanced security awareness training, more practical security policies, and improved access control measures. By understanding the root causes and organizational vulnerabilities, this research offers strategies to prevent data breaches, including comprehensive training programs, user-friendly security policies, and regular security audits.

Comments/Acknowledgements

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to God for guiding me through every aspect of my life. Thank you to my fiancé for choosing to pursue the same degree, attending classes together, and taking me on adventures. I am also grateful to my family and friends for their support.

A special thank you to my advisor and research supervisor, Dr. Herath, whose guidance, advice, and support have been invaluable; I could not have accomplished this without him, and for that, I am most grateful. I would also like to extend my thanks to the entire IA faculty, particularly the director, Dr. Chen, as well as my committee members, Professor Erich Rice and Professor Akalanka Mailewa, for their support and contributions to my academic journey.

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