Developing a digital competence framework for UAE law enforcement agencies to enhance cyber security of Critical Physical Infrastructure (CPI)

Alhajeri, M

Abstract

Critical Physical Infrastructures (CPI) are assets and systems that are vital to the health, safety, security, and economic or social well-being of people, and have become increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks that have the potential to cause severe debilitating and destructive impact on a nation’s economic security or public health and safety. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has experienced a high level of cyberattacks targeted at its critical physical infrastructure which has also undergone rapid modernisation, digitisation and interconnection of systems that could expose it to potential vulnerabilities in cyberspace. This thesis addresses a major challenge in the capacity of law enforcement to address cyberattacks in respect of the digital capabilities that are necessary to maintain pace with technologies and respond effectively in a digital environment. The purpose of this study is to develop a digital competences framework for UAE law enforcement agencies to combat cyber security threats facing CPI. This identifies the key functions and role of law enforcement and prioritises primary domains and elements of digital competency for cyber security that are critical for law enforcement to perform its role in protecting CPI. A holistic case study design using multiple methods to generate qualitative and quantitative data is adopted. A Delphi method is applied over multiple stages aimed at achieving consensus among experts and professionals using open and semi-structured interviews, analytical hierarchy process (AHP), quantitative survey and group building methods. The sample consists of 25 experts from different law enforcement organisations and from different roles and different levels of the organisation. The findings present a digital competency framework for cybersecurity of CPI which models a holistic socio-technical approach and evaluation of digital competency requirements in line with the different functions and roles of law enforcement. Digital competency is conceptualised as an interplay of multiple interconnected dimensions including balance, type and relevance of training and future proofing. The highest ranked digital competencies for law enforcement to protect CPI are identified as Investigate, Analyse, Collect and Operate and Protect and Defend. The three highest ranked specialty areas are Cyber Investigation, Digital Forensics and All-Source Analysis. Cybercrime Investigator, Law Enforcement/Counterintelligence Forensics Analyst, and All-Source Analyst are the highest ranked work roles. The framework identifies knowledge skills and ability competencies for each of these domains. This study makes a novel contribution to theory of digital competency in identifying and prioritising key factors and processes for the design and implementation of digital competency development. The study prioritises the competences and speciality areas of digital competency and the associated knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) in the area of law enforcement for enhancing security of CPI.

Citation

Alhajeri, M. Developing a digital competence framework for UAE law enforcement agencies to enhance cyber security of Critical Physical Infrastructure (CPI). (Thesis). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Dec 12, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 12, 2022
• Additional Information: Funders : Embassy of the United Arab Emirates Police Attaches
• Award Date: Jan 5, 2022