Strategies for Cybercrime Prevention in Information Technology Businesses

Abstract

Cybercrime continues to be a devastating phenomenon, impacting individuals and businesses across the globe. Information technology (IT) businesses need solutions to defend and secure their data and networks from cyberattacks. Grounded in general systems theory and transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies IT business leaders use to protect their systems from a cyberattack. The participants included six IT business leaders with experience in cybersecurity or system security in the Midlands region of South Carolina. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and reviews of government standards documents; data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Three themes emerged from the study: (a) cybercrime prevention strategy; (b) cybersecurity awareness, training, and education; and (c) effective leadership. A key recommendation is for IT business leaders to ensure employees are current on cybersecurity awareness and defense techniques through regular training and education, use third-party vendors that are subject matter experts where they lack talent, and develop leaders with a transformational mindset. The implications for positive social change include the potential for IT business leaders and employees to become more proactive in learning and implementing effective cybercrime prevention strategies to keep their businesses profitable and support the needs of stakeholders and clients.