Mindfulness: The first line of defense in cyberspace

Abstract

The role of end-users in cybersecurity continues to be understated. Despite the proliferation of cyber-attacks, security awareness programs remain largely “check-in-the-box” compliance exercises that do not yield sustainable results. This chapter advances the notion that mindfulness is the foundation and the key to establishing a robust online presence and is the precursor to cybersecurity resilience. More specifically, this chapter summarizes traditional cybersecurity risk management practices and highlights why they continue to fail given the evolving nature of cyber threats. Finally, this chapter outlines a novel blueprint to cultivate mindfulness and calls for the empowerment of individuals to take ownership of their destiny in cyberspace.