Date of Conferral
2020
Degree
Doctor of Information Technology (D.I.T.)
School
Management
Advisor
Donald Carpenter
Abstract
Information systems at universities and colleges are not exempt from the threat of malware. Preventing and mitigating malware attacks is important to universities’ and colleges’ IT leaders to protect sensitive data confidentiality. Grounded in general system theory, the purpose of this exploratory multiple case study was to explore strategies universities’ and colleges’ information technology (IT) leaders use to prevent and mitigate malware attacks. Participants consisted of 6 IT leaders from 3 universities and colleges in Southern California responsible for preventing and mitigating malware attacks. Data were collected through semistructured video teleconferences and 7 organizational documents. Three significant themes emerged through thematic analysis: personnel issues, security planning, and security management practices. A key recommendation is for IT leaders to implement a training and awareness program to address personnel issues. The implications for positive social change include IT leaders potential to secure students’, parents’, and faculty's confidential information, thereby reducing IT protection costs and preventing identity theft.
Recommended Citation
Agyei, Felix, "Strategies Universities’ and Colleges’ IT Leaders Use to Prevent Malware Attacks" (2020). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 10082.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/10082
