Formation of information security culture in digital educational environment: Management mechanisms and staff competency development

The study presented in the article is devoted to the analysis of management mechanisms for formation of information security culture in the digital educational environment of higher educational institutions. Digital transformation actualizes the problem of protecting personal data, ensuring continuity of the educational process under cyber threats, developing staff competencies. The education sector demonstrates high vulnerability due to insufficient staff training. The purpose of the study is to develop an integrated model for managing information security culture based on systematic development of personnel competencies. The methodological basis consisted of an institutional approach to organizational culture, the concept of human resource management in the digital economy, competency-based approach. The empirical base included a survey of 130 employees of educational organizations in Moscow, analysis of regulations of 12 universities, expert interviews with security service heads. Timeframe of the study: January—November 2025. The survey results showed that 74.6 % of respondents are insufficiently aware of information protection, 62.3 % do not possess phishing recognition skills. Model implementation increased information literacy by 41.8 %, reduced incidents by 37.5 %. A correlation was established between information security culture and loyalty to digital transformations (r = 0.71). The theoretical significance of the research lies in the development of concepts for the formation of an information security in the digitalization of education, its practical value lies in improving personnel management and increasing the resilience of educational organizations to cyber threats.

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