| The importance of Information Technology (IT) and Information Systems (IS) security is evident from the abundance of research conducted on the topic and from organizational expenditures ensuring the safeguarding of organizations' information systems and data holdings. Additionally, there exists significant research studying generations, the differences amongst generational cohorts, and the multigenerational workplace. The purpose of this study is to examine the nuances of the multigenerational workplace against the four factors affecting perceived security awareness levels depending on the generational cohort of the end user. Researchers have frequently referred to end users as being the weakest links in cyber security, and have observed that the most frequent types of security violations are non-malicious in nature. End user behavior or bad habits are detrimental to the security of organizational information systems regardless of the technological solutions put in place by network engineers and managers. Three generational cohorts, the Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials, compose today's multigenerational workplace. Each cohort possesses unique habits, values, motivational factors, beliefs, and perceptions of the value of IT systems. By examining these differences and determining the factors that have the greatest influence on cyber security in each cohort, organizations can tailor their cyber security training and awareness efforts to the end users' generational cohort, thereby increasing compliance with organizational cyber security policies and their cyber security posture. The results of this study indicate that each generational cohort is influenced differently by the four factors that affect its members' perceived security awareness level. Given the characteristics of the three generational cohorts, the factor having the most influence on perceived security awareness relates to the generational cohorts' different attitudes, habits, and beliefs. Since each cohort possesses a factor that most influences its members' security awareness, all four factors need to be considered by both executives and IT/IS specialists alike, as these factors are symbiotic in nature. While one factor is dominant in each cohort's level of security awareness, organizations will be best served by capitalizing on the factor most influencing positive security awareness while incorporating all four factors to contribute holistically to the creation of well-informed end users. |
