arXiv subjects

Atif Ahmad

Publications and source records attributed to Atif Ahmad.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

A Structuration Approach to Theorizing Cybersecurity Practice: The STARC Model

The problem: Cybersecurity practice runs simultaneously across analysts, teams, organizations, sectors, and regulators, co-evolves with adversaries, and increasingly blends human and algorithmic decision-making. The theories applied to it operate at single organizational levels and cannot explain why organizations with broadly similar controls differ sharply in resilience. This paper: We develop STARC (Structuration Theory Adaptation for Resilient Cybersecurity), a framework for locating where cybersecurity practice succeeds or fails structurally. It extends Giddens' Structuration Theory with three innovations, Multi-Level Adversarial Agency, Threat-Adaptive Structuration, and Material-Agential Structural Properties, across five structure-agency triads. Evidence base: STARC is illustrated through re-analysis of three financial organizations, an Australian, an Indonesian, and a Malaysian bank, across 20 interviews from SOC analysts to senior executives, selected as diverse insourced and outsourced configurations rather than as a comparison of equivalents. Cybersecurity contribution: STARC offers a structural account of why differently resourced and outsourced organizations differ in resilience, and a vocabulary for diagnosing incident-response breakdown across levels, tempos, and the human-algorithm authority boundary that single-level frameworks leave invisible. Theory and outputs: It extends Structuration Theory to adversarial, multi-level, and hybrid human-algorithmic contexts, and yields seven testable propositions linking structuration to resilience, offered for future testing.

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arXiv2026

Threat Intelligence Driven IP Protection for Entrepreneurial SMEs

Entrepreneurial small to medium enterprises face significant cybersecurity challenges when developing valuable intellectual property (IP). This paper addresses the critical gap in research on how E-SMEs can protect their IP assets from cybersecurity threats through effective threat intelligence and IP protection activities. Drawing on Dynamic Capabilities and Knowledge-Based View theoretical frameworks, we propose the Threat Intelligence-driven IP Protection (TI-IPP) model. This conceptual model features to modes of operation, closed IP development and open innovation, enabling E-SMEs to adapt their IP protection and knowledge management strategies. The model incorporates four key phases: sensing opportunities and threats, seizing opportunities, knowledge transfer, and organizational transformation. By integrating cybersecurity threat intelligence with IP protection practices, E-SMEs can develop capabilities to safeguard valuable IP while maintaining competitive advantage. This research-in-progress paper outlines a qualitative research methodology using multiple case studies to validate and refine the proposed model for practical application in resource-constrained entrepreneurial environments.

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arXiv2026

Toward a Dynamic Intellectual Property Protection Model in High-Growth SMEs

This paper addresses the challenges faced by High-Growth Small-to-Medium Enterprises (HG-SMEs) in balancing intellectual property (IP) protection with open innovation during periods of rapid growth. Despite developing valuable IP assets that drive success, HG-SMEs often struggle with cybersecurity concerns related to IP theft and data exfiltration amidst resource constraints and the competing demands of expansion. We examine the intersection of cybersecurity, IP protection and rapid scaling - an area currently underexplored in existing literature. Drawing on Dynamic Capabilities (DC), Knowledge-based View (KBV) and open innovation theoretical frameworks, we introduce a conceptual framework to guide HG-SMEs in effectively managing valuable IP assets. This research-in-progress paper outlines a qualitative methodology to validate and refine the model. By addressing the research question of how HG-SMEs manage cybersecurity to protect valuable IP assets, we aim to provide practical guidance for high-growth, technology-driven companies navigating the tension between robust IP protection and collaborative innovation.

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arXiv2025

Organizational Learning in Industry 4.0: Applying Crossan's 4I Framework with Double Loop Learning

The Advanced Dynamic Security Learning (DSL) Process Model is an Industry 4.0 cybersecurity incident response architecture proposed in this paper. This model addresses proactive and reflective cybersecurity governance across complex cyber-physical systems by combining Argyris and Sch\"on's double-loop learning theory with Crossan's 4I organizational learning framework. Given that 65% of industrial companies suffer ransomware attacks annually and many of them lack cybersecurity awareness, this reveals the gravity of cyber threats. Feedforward and feedback learning loops in this paradigm help promote strategic transformation and ongoing growth. The DSL model helps Industry 4.0 organizations adapt to growing challenges posed by the projected 18.8 billion IoT devices by bridging operational obstacles and promoting systemic resilience. This research presents a scalable, methodical cybersecurity maturity approach based on a comprehensive analysis of the literature and a qualitative study.

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arXiv2023

Towards a knowledge leakage Mitigation framework for mobile Devices in knowledge-intensive Organizations

The use of mobile devices in knowledge-intensive organizations while effective and cost-efficient also pose a challenging management problem. Often employees whether deliberately or inadvertently are the cause of knowledge leakage in organizations and the use of mobile devices further exacerbates it. This problem is the result of overly focusing on technical controls while neglecting human factors. Knowledge leakage is a multidimensional problem, and in this paper, we highlight the different dimensions that constitute it. In this study, our contributions are threefold. First, we study knowledge leakage risk (KLR) within the context of mobile devices in knowledge-intensive organizations in Australia. Second, we present a conceptual framework to explain and categorize the mitigation strategies to combat KLR through the use of mobile devices grounded in the literature. And third, we apply the framework to the findings from interviews with security and knowledge managers. Keywords: Knowledge Leakage, Knowledge Risk, Knowledge intensive, Mobile device.

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arXiv2023

Addressing Knowledge Leakage Risk caused by the use of mobile devices in Australian Organizations

Information and knowledge leakage has become a significant security risk to Australian organizations. Each security incident in Australian business cost an average US$\$$2.8 million. Furthermore, Australian organisations spend the second most worldwide (US$\$$1.2 million each on average) on investigating and assessing information breaches. The leakage of sensitive organizational information occurs through different avenues, such as social media, cloud computing and mobile devices. In this study, we (1) analyze the knowledge leakage risk (KLR) caused by the use of mobile devices in knowledge-intensive Australian organizations, (2) present a conceptual research model to explain the determinants that influence KLR through the use of mobile devices grounded in the literature, (3) conduct interviews with security and knowledge managers to understand what strategies they use to mitigate KLR caused by the use of mobile devices and (4) use content analysis and the conceptual model to frame the preliminary findings from the interviews. Keywords: Knowledge leakage, mobile devices, mobile contexts, knowledge leakage risk

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arXiv2022

Information Security Management in High Quality IS Journals: A Review and Research Agenda

In the digital age, the protection of information resources is critical to the viability of organizations. Information Security Management (ISM) is a protective function that preserves the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information resources in organizations operating in a complex and evolving security threat landscape. This paper analyses ISM research themes, methods, and theories in high quality IS journals over a period of 30 years (up to the end of 2017). Although our review found that less than 1 percent of papers to be in the area of ISM, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of ISM publications as well as new emerging themes in the past decade. Further, past trends towards subjective-argumentative papers have reversed in favour of empirically validated research. Our analysis of research methods and approaches found ISM studies to be dominated by one-time surveys rather than case studies and action research. The findings suggest that although ISM research has improved its empirical backing over the years, it remains relatively disengaged from organisational practice.

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arXiv2022

Factors Influencing the Organizational Decision to Outsource IT Security: A Review and Research Agenda

IT security outsourcing is the process of contracting a third-party security service provider to perform, the full or partial IT security functions of an organization. Little is known about the factors influencing organizational decisions in outsourcing such a critical function. Our review of the research and practice literature identified several managerial factors and legal factors. We found research in IT security outsourcing to be immature and the focus areas not addressing the critical issues facing industry practice. We therefore present a research agenda consisting of fifteen questions to address five key gaps relating to knowledge of IT security outsourcing, specifically effectiveness of the outcome, lived experience of the practice, the temporal dimension, multi-stakeholder perspectives, and the impact on IT security practices, particularly agility in incident response.

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arXiv2021

Cybersecurity Incident Response in Organisations: A Meta-level Framework for Scenario-based Training

Cybersecurity incident response teams mitigate the impact of adverse cyber-related events in organisations. Field studies of IR teams suggest that at present the process of IR is under-developed with a focus on the technological dimension with little consideration of practice capability. To address this gap, we develop a scenario-based training approach to assist organisations to overcome socio-technical barriers to incident response. The training approach is informed by a comprehensive list of socio-technical barriers compiled from a comprehensive review of the literature. Our primary contribution is a novel meta-level framework to generate scenarios specifically targeting socio-technical issues. To demonstrate the utility of the framework, a proof-of-concept scenario is presented.

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arXiv2021

Sensemaking in Cybersecurity Incident Response: The Interplay of Organizations, Technology and Individuals

Sensemaking is a critical activity in organizations. It is a process through which individuals ascribe meanings to events which forms the basis to facilitate collective action. However, the role of organizations, technology and individuals and their interaction in the process of sensemaking has not been sufficiently explored. This novel study seeks to address this gap by proposing a framework that explains how the interplay among organizations, technology and individuals enables sensemaking in the process of cybersecurity incident response. We propose that Organizations, Technology, and Individuals are the key components that interact in various ways to facilitate enactment, selection and retention activities (Sensemaking activities) in Incident Response. We argue that sensemaking in Incident Response is the outcome of this interaction. This interaction allows organizations to respond to cybersecurity incidents in a comprehensive manner.

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arXiv2021

The Dark Web Phenomenon: A Review and Research Agenda

The internet can be broadly divided into three parts: surface, deep and dark. The dark web has become notorious in the media for being a hidden part of the web where all manner of illegal activities take place. This review investigates how the dark web is being utilised with an emphasis on cybercrime, and how law enforcement plays the role of its adversary. The review describes these hidden spaces, sheds light on their history, the activities that they harbour including cybercrime, the nature of attention they receive, and methodologies employed by law enforcement in an attempt to defeat their purpose. More importantly, it is argued that these spaces should be considered a phenomenon and not an isolated occurrence to be taken as merely a natural consequence of technology. This paper contributes to the area of dark web research by serving as a reference document and by proposing a research agenda.

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arXiv2021

Exploring Knowledge Leakage Risk in Knowledge-Intensive Organisations: Behavioural aspects and Key controls

Knowledge leakage poses a critical risk to the competitive advantage of knowledge-intensive organisations. Although knowledge leakage is a human-centric security issue, little is known about leakage resulting from individual behaviour and the protective strategies and controls that could be effective in mitigating leakage risk. Therefore, this research explores the perspectives of security practitioners on the key factors that influence knowledge leakage risk in the context of knowledge-intensive organisations. We conduct two focus groups to explore these perspectives. The research highlights three types of behavioural controls that mitigate the risk of knowledge leakage: human resource management practices, knowledge security training and awareness practices, and compartmentalisation practices.

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arXiv2021

Dynamic Information Security Management Capability: Strategising for Organisational Performance

The increasing frequency, impact, consequence and sophistication of cybersecurity attacks is becoming a strategic concern for boards and executive management of organisations. Consequently, in addition to focusing on productivity and performance, organisations are prioritizing Information Security Management (ISM). However, research has revealed little or no conceptualisation of a dynamic ISM capability and its link to organisational performance. In this research, we set out to 1) define and describe an organisational level dynamic ISM capability, 2) to develop a strategic model that links resources with this dynamic capability, and then 3) empirically demonstrate how dynamic ISM capability contributes to firm performance. By drawing on Resource-Based Theory (RBT) and Dynamic Capabilities View (DCV), we have developed the Dynamic ISM Capability model to address the identified gap. As we develop this research, we will empirically test this model to demonstrate causality between ISM capability and organisational performance.

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arXiv2021

Enhancing Strategic Information Security Management in Organizations through Information Warfare Practices

In this short paper we argue that to combat APTs, organizations need a strategic level shift away from a traditional prevention centered approach to that of a response centered one. Drawing on the information warfare (IW) paradigm in military studies, and using Dynamic Capability Theory (DCT), this research examines the applicability of IW capabilities in the corporate domain. We propose a research framework to argue that conventional prevention centred response capabilities; such as incident response capabilities and IW centred security capabilities can be integrated into IW enabled dynamic response capabilities that improve enterprise security performance.

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arXiv2021

Teaching Information Security Management Using an Incident of Intellectual Property Leakage

Case-based learning is a powerful pedagogical method of creating dialogue between theory and practice. CBL is particularly suited to executive learning as it instigates critical discussion and draws out relevant experiences. In this paper we used a real-world case to teach Information Security Management to students in Management Information Systems. The real-world case is described in a legal indictment, T-mobile USA Inc v Huawei Device USA Inc. and Huawei Technologies Co. LTD, alleging theft of intellectual property and breaches of contract concerning confidentiality and disclosure of sensitive information. The incident scenario is interesting as it relates to a business asset that has both digital and physical components that has been compromised through an unconventional cyber-physical attack facilitated by insiders. The scenario sparked an interesting debate among students about the scope and definition of security incidents, the role and structure of the security unit, the utility of compliance-based approaches to security, and the inadequate use of threat intelligence in modern security strategies.

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arXiv2021

Teaching Information Security Management in Postgraduate Tertiary Education: The Case of Horizon Automotive Industries

Teaching cases based on stories about real organizations are a powerful means of storytelling. These cases closely parallel real-world situations and can deliver on pedagogical objectives as writers can use their creative license to craft a storyline that better focuses on the specific principles, concepts, and challenges they want to address in their teaching. The method instigates critical discussion, draws out relevant experiences from students, encourages questioning of accepted practices, and creates dialogue between theory and practice. We present Horizon, a case study of a firm that suffers a catastrophic incident of Intellectual Property (IP) theft. The case study was developed to teach information security management (ISM) principles in key areas such as strategy, risk, policy and training to postgraduate Information Systems and Information Technology students at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

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arXiv2021

Strategically-Motivated Advanced Persistent Threat: Definition, Process, Tactics and a Disinformation Model of Counterattack

Advanced persistent threat (APT) is widely acknowledged to be the most sophisticated and potent class of security threat. APT refers to knowledgeable human attackers that are organized, highly sophisticated and motivated to achieve their objectives against a targeted organization(s) over a prolonged period. Strategically-motivated APTs or S-APTs are distinct in that they draw their objectives from the broader strategic agenda of third parties such as criminal syndicates, nation-states, and rival corporations. In this paper we review the use of the term - Advanced Persistent Threat - and present a formal definition. We then draw on military science, the science of organized conflict, for a theoretical basis to develop a rigorous and holistic model of the stages of an APT operation which we subsequently use to explain how S-APTs execute their strategically motivated operations using tactics, techniques and procedures. Finally, we present a general disinformation model, derived from situation awareness theory, and explain how disinformation can be used to attack the situation awareness and decision making of not only S-APT operators, but also the entities that back them.

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arXiv2016

Information Security Strategy in Organisations: Review, Discussion and Future Research Directions

Dependence on information, including for some of the world's largest organisations such as governments and multi-national corporations, has grown rapidly in recent years. However, reports of information security breaches and their associated consequences continue to indicate that attacks are still escalating on organisations when conducting these information-based activities. Clearly, more research is needed to better understand how organisations should formulate strategy to secure their information. Through a thematic review of academic security literature, we (1) analyse the antecedent conditions that motivate the potential adoption of a comprehensive information security strategy, (2) the current perspectives of strategy and (3) the yields and benefits that could be enjoyed post-adoption. Our contributions include a definition of information security strategy. We argue for a paradigm shift to extend from internally-focussed protection of organisation-wide information towards a strategic view that considers the inter-organisational level. Our findings are then used to suggest future research directions.

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