Infrastructure Cyber-Attack Awareness Training: Effective or Not?

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to provide insight as to how infrastructure countermeasures awareness training will impact individuals dealing with a nationwide catastrophic cyber-attack. Can this awareness training lessen the psychological effect of an attack? This study showed no value for this type of training. Reading about such an attack, the subjects had lower technical optimism and cyber self-efficacy. Reading about infrastructure countermeasures, before or after reading about a cyberattack, did not improve or maintain the subjects’ optimism and self-efficacy. A possible explanation is that emotional arousal may override or block rational thinking. Another explanation may be that a nationwide attack is towards the infrastructure and not the personal computer. Here the individual lacks any control. Future research needs to look at personal preparation and response training to see if it will help the psychological effects of a catastrophic cyber-attack.