The impact of data breaches: The organizational security measures and the individual perception of an organization’s security attempts

Abstract: As people and organizations make themselves more vulnerable on the internet, there is a significant increase in cybersecurity threats. Due to this, organizations and individuals think more about their actions online. However, organizations are constantly improving their methods, when handling confidential data and are developing an understanding of protecting consumers from such exposure. This research has looked into previous literature, regarding the concepts of cybercrime, cybersecurity, and handling of personal data. The empirical data consists of two semi-structured interviews with two individuals working at security departments, within respective organizations. From the interviews, we identified some clear similarities and some that were less obvious. To get a better understanding of the individual perspective, a survey questionnaire was conducted and sent to a mixed group of individuals. The survey results are presented and discussed with the theoretical and empirical findings. The study identifies several conclusions. Including organizational security measures and individuals perceptions of the information provided by organizations, regarding their data handling.