Evaluating The Behavior Aspect Of Information Security In The Vietnamese Public Sector: The Role Of Government Social Media And Employees' Cybersecurity Awareness

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigates the impact of government social media interaction and organizational policies on cybersecurity awareness, motivation, and behaviors among public officials, thus supporting cybersecurity effectiveness in governmental institutions. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative method implemented via questionnaire distribution was adopted to gather primary data from Ho Chi Minh City and its surrounding areas in Vietnam. PLS-SEM standing for Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling is the method that was employed to analyze a collected dataset of 323 responses and test research hypotheses. Findings: First, cybersecurity awareness positively impacts information protection motivation and employee protective behavior. Second, government social media interaction positively affects cybersecurity awareness and information protection motivation. Third, a significant positive correlation exists between information protection motivation and employee protective behavior. Finally, organizational policies significantly enhance cybersecurity awareness, but they do not directly affect employee protective behavior; rather, their influence is indirect through cybersecurity awareness. Originality/value: This study will make a significant contribution to the existing literature on cybersecurity in Vietnam, particularly in the behavioral domain. It focuses on measuring the impact of cybersecurity awareness on protective behaviors, going beyond merely intentions and attitudes. Additionally, the study integrates the four components of the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) into cybersecurity awareness, providing a more comprehensive measurement that includes awareness of threat situations and available countermeasures. Furthermore, the research examines the influence of government social media on cybersecurity awareness among organizational insiders, offering insights into the effectiveness of recent government efforts to promote cybersecurity.