An Empirical Study of SETA Program Sustaining Educational Sector’s Information Security vs. Information Systems Misuse

Information systems misuse and data breaches are among the most common information security threats at the organisational and individual levels. Security, Education, Training and Awareness (SETA) program can be effective tools in addressing and preventing such risks for sustaining the educational sector’s information security, although it is costly to implement and achieves limited results. Several studies have shown that SETA implementation can improve corporate employees’ information security protection behaviours. This study adopts the method of quantitative research, deterrence theory with selected perceived cost and information security awareness (ISA) as intermediate variables and explores how SETA programs affect information system abuse on campuses. The results show that implementing the SETA program positively impacts perceived cost and ISA; perceived cost and information security positively impact reducing misuse behaviour of information systems. At last, we provide rationalisation suggestions for individual students and schools to help SETA programs to be better implemented. © 2023 by the authors.