TRACK 4: Cybersecurity in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
Track Chairs: Sukumar Ganapati (Florida International University, USA), Chris Reddick (University of Texas at San Antonio, USA), Michael Ahn (University of Massachusetts Boston, USA)
Cybersecurity has gained a renewed and increased significance for public and nonprofit agencies as they have been major targets of various cyber attacks, particularly in the context of work environments during the Covid-19 pandemic. As these agencies transitioned their operations from face to face work schedules to work from home during the pandemic, they have had to cope with increased security risks with digitization of their programs and provision of online services. Without adequate cybersecurity, the agencies are vulnerable. Ransomware attacks, for example, could cripple critical programs (e.g. education) and services (e.g. utility). Cybersecurity is not only a technical problem, but also an organizational issue. This track will examine the pedagogical, public policy, and organizational dimensions of cybersecurity in this context. What are the educational implications for public administrators and nonprofit managers? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the various cybersecurity frameworks (e.g. “zero trust”)? Are cyber-insurance policies adequate measures? What are the elements of organizational cyber-resilience? We invite papers that broadly deal with these questions in the context of public and nonprofit organizations.
