ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the major components of institutional approaches to cybersecurity, with a particular focus on the human resource management. It argues that the tale of recent public sector cybersecurity breaches is as much a story of human capital and human resource management policies as it is about inadequate hardware and software infrastructure. The chapter highlights the 2015 Office of Personnel Management (OPM) data breach and, using recent guidance, describes contemporary challenges and strategies for public sector organizations seeking to strengthen their security networks. Although the challenge of cybersecurity permeates all functional areas within an organization, from a strategic human resource management perspective, there are some primary tasks that leaders must focus on in combating the threat of cyber-attacks. Similar to human capital guidance promoted by federal agencies in the early 2000s, DHS and NIST have each developed and promoted comprehensive frameworks to identify cybersecurity workforce needs and develop a high performing cybersecurity workforce.
