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Abstract
Amidst the escalating complexities of digitization and globalization, cybersecurity has emerged as a pivotal concern for organizations. This quantitative dissertation explores the interplay of budget constraints and scanning frequency on cybersecurity vulnerability patching practices, drawing on responses from 155 industry professionals. The study is anchored in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Target of Evaluation (TOE) frameworks, focusing on adopting vulnerability patching technologies within organizations and the influence of budgetary constraints on vulnerability discovery and patching practices. The research employed a proven questionnaire, validated through initial pilot testing and Cronbach's Alpha values, and conducted statistical analyses using SPSS.
The study's findings reveal a moderate positive correlation (Spearman's rho = .407) between budget allocation for cybersecurity and the frequency of vulnerability patching, suggesting that increased budgeting may foster more frequent patching practices. However, the correlation between the frequency of vulnerability scanning and patching practices was weak and non-significant (rho = .080, p = .329), indicating a negligible direct relationship.
These results underscore the importance of budgeting in patching frequency while highlighting that scanning frequency does not directly influence patching practices. This research contributes significantly to understanding cybersecurity practices in organizations, emphasizing the need for comprehensive approaches that extend beyond mere financial and operational factors. It also sets the groundwork for future research, advocating for exploring a broader range of variables and larger sample sizes to deepen the understanding of cybersecurity management practices.
