Date of Conferral
2020
Degree
Doctor of Information Technology (D.I.T.)
School
Information Systems and Technology
Advisor
Jon McKeeby
Abstract
Through the advances in technology, businesses can now utilize the Internet of Things (IoT) devices to improve workflow and provide better services to customers. However, without a strategy to secure these devices, Information Technology (IT) security professionals are left with vulnerable equipment. Grounded in routine activities theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to determine strategies IT security professionals used to protect IoT devices in their environment. The participants were 6 IT professionals from 2 medium to large size healthcare facilities based in the Buffalo, New York, and the Washington D.C. area, who possessed strategies to protect IoT devices. The data collection included semi-structured interviews and analysis of 7 industry standardization documents and 12 business documents. Data were analyzed using cluster analysis; four themes that emerged included user education to promote security, protect the environment through security layers, a policy that supports security, and threats that the technical gaps present. A key recommendation is that IT security professionals develop a security strategy that uses multiple layers to protect IoT devices from malware attacks. The implications for positive social change include the potential for IT security professionals to implement multi-layered IoT security strategies, which can help decrease attacks on vulnerable IoT devices and assure citizens of protecting their data.
Recommended Citation
Murray, Christopher Ray, "A Secure and Strategic Approach to Keep IoT Devices Safe from Malware Attack" (2020). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 9782.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/9782
