Cyber Threats and Workplace Vulnerabilities: A Strategic Approach to Cyber Protection Management

Abstract

The modern work environment, embodying a digital environment of interconnection and working remotely, is confronted with the unstopping range of cyber threats that capitalize on the technological and human weaknesses. The strategic framework of Cyber Protection Management (CPM) described in this paper is aimed at striking the balance between the tactical implementation of cybersecurity and organizational strategic goals. Based on the recent reports in the industry (IBM, 2023; Verizon, 2024) and academic studies published after 2021, we review the dynamic nature of cyber losses, the importance of Situation Awareness (SA), and the incorporation of Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) in the risk management procedures. Our hypothesized risk assessment methodology is a new dynamic framework that can be used to promote proactive defense by tapping into the frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK and combining CTI platforms. The paper concludes with the strategic CPM model, which is justified by a design science research approach, which aligns security investments with business priorities and optimizes incident response and promotes a resilient organizational culture. The results show that an integrated, intelligence-based, and strategic response is the most important to reduce the effects of breaches (financial and operational) in the contemporary digital workplaces.