Ciência-IUL
Publications
Publication Detailed Description
Journal Title
IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering
Year (definitive publication)
2019
Language
English
Country
United States of America
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Abstract
Stakeholders' security decisions play a fundamental role in determining security requirements, yet, little is currently understood about how different stakeholder groups within an organisation approach security and the drivers and tacit biases underpinning their decisions. We studied and contrasted the security decisions of three demographics -- security experts, computer scientists and managers -- when playing a tabletop game that we designed and developed. The game tasks players with managing the security of a cyber-physical environment while facing various threats. Analysis of 12 groups of players (4 groups in each of our demographics) reveals strategies that repeat in particular demographics, e.g., managers and security experts generally favoring technological solutions over personnel training, which computer scientists preferred. Surprisingly, security experts were not ipso facto better players -- in some cases, they made very questionable decisions -- yet they showed a higher level of confidence in themselves. We classified players' decision-making processes, i.e., procedure-, experience-, scenario- or intuition-driven. We identified decision patterns, both good practices and typical errors and pitfalls. Our game provides a requirements sandbox in which players can experiment with security risks, learn about decision-making and its consequences, and reflect on their own perception of security.
Acknowledgements
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Keywords
Security decisions,Security requirements,Game,Decision patterns
Fields of Science and Technology Classification
- Computer and Information Sciences - Natural Sciences
- Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering - Engineering and Technology
Funding Records
Funding Reference | Funding Entity |
---|---|
EP/M002780/1 | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council |
UID/MULTI/0446/2013 | Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia |