Examining the effect of different knowledge aspects on information security awareness

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the different aspects of knowledge and how they associate with information security awareness (ISA). The paper also explores how ISA differs based on demographic characteristics. Design/methodology/approach Survey data was collected from 609 respondents in Malaysia. Findings The results show that increasing access to informal, multimedia learning mediums, declarative, schematic and strategic knowledge positively impacts an individual's ISA, whereas textual learning medium decreases the ISA. Respondents with different education levels significantly prefer different types of knowledge. Males learn better for ISA with schematic and strategic knowledge compared to females. Practical implications The research provides implications for governments and organizations in designing effective ISA campaigns. Originality/value Studies show that ISA is crucial in improving information systems policy compliance behavior. The literature has examined various topics ranging from the factors influencing the ISA to how ISA impacts information security behavior. However, there is a lack of study on how different aspects of knowledge impact ISA. This study identified various knowledge aspects from the literature and grouped them into the source, type of knowledge, emotion toward knowledge and learning medium.