Strengthening cybersecurity in a government department by addressing password management challenges and human factor vulnerabilities
At a Glance
Section titled âAt a Glanceâ| Metadata | Details |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | 2025-07-14 |
| Journal | Discover Computing |
| Authors | Matipa Ricky Ngandu, Gardner Mwansa, Ziyanda Mkabe |
| Institutions | Walter Sisulu University |
| Analysis | Full AI Review Included |
Technical Documentation & Analysis: Enabling Next-Generation Cybersecurity Hardware
Section titled âTechnical Documentation & Analysis: Enabling Next-Generation Cybersecurity HardwareâReference Paper: Ngandu et al. Discover Computing (2025) 28:148. Strengthening cybersecurity in a government department by addressing password management challenges and human factor vulnerabilities.
Executive Summary
Section titled âExecutive SummaryâThis research paper identifies critical human and organizational vulnerabilities in healthcare password management, underscoring an urgent need for robust, hardware-enabled security solutions such as Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Biometrics. 6CCVD leverages the extreme properties of MPCVD diamond to address these requirements, providing enabling materials for high-reliability authentication hardware.
- Core Problem: Significant human factor vulnerabilities exist, including high password reuse (60%) and failure to update (20%), leading to operational delays and heightened cybersecurity risk.
- Required Solutions: The study strongly recommends integrating advanced security features, including MFA, password-less authentication, and biometric systems, to mitigate user error and organizational ambiguity.
- Performance Requirement: Advanced authentication systems (e.g., biometric scanners, secure hardware tokens) require materials with superior thermal, mechanical, and electronic stability for high-speed, reliable operation in sensitive environments.
- 6CCVD Value Proposition: MPCVD Single Crystal Diamond (SCD) and Polycrystalline Diamond (PCD) offer unmatched thermal conductivity, hardness, and chemical inertness, making them ideal substrates and components for high-reliability security hardware.
- Key Finding Correlation: The statistically significant link between unclear roles and operational delays (p < 0.001) reinforces the need for centralized, automated, and hardware-secured authentication processes that minimize human intervention.
- Material Focus: 6CCVD provides the foundation for robust security hardware, including optical-grade diamond for high-resolution biometric sensors and Boron-Doped Diamond (BDD) for radiation-hardened secure processing units.
Technical Specifications
Section titled âTechnical SpecificationsâThe following data points are extracted from the study, highlighting the scale of the human factor problem and the required shift toward enhanced security features.
| Parameter | Value | Unit | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Password Reuse Rate | 60 | % | Users reusing passwords across multiple accounts. |
| Never Update Rate | 20 | % | Users who never change their passwords. |
| Preferred Security Improvement | 76 | % | Respondents advocating for enhanced security features (e.g., MFA, Biometrics). |
| Primary Vulnerability Identified | 54 | % | Respondents identifying âlack of security measuresâ as the most significant vulnerability. |
| Perceived Security Confidence | 46 | % | Respondents who believe existing systems do not adequately safeguard user data during resets. |
| Correlation: Security vs. Trust | 0.416 | Spearmanâs rho | Positive correlation between perceived reset security and data protection confidence (p=0.003). |
| Management Centralization | 22 | % | Password management policies are decentralized (lacking central oversight). |
| Role Ambiguity Impact | p < 0.001 | Exact Sig. (2-sided) | Statistically significant association between operational delays and unclear role assignments. |
Key Methodologies
Section titled âKey MethodologiesâThe study employed a rigorous quantitative methodology focused on human-centered cybersecurity assessment, utilizing established statistical techniques to analyze behavioral patterns and organizational structure.
- Research Design: Quantitative approach using a structured survey instrument (28 items).
- Sampling Technique: Stratified random sampling across three employee categories: IT staff (14), System Administrators (7), and Healthcare Professionals (29).
- Sample Size: N = 50 respondents from a single district health department, achieving a 100% response rate.
- Data Collection: Electronic distribution via internal mailing lists and administrative platforms, conducted between 25th November 2024 and 10th December 2024.
- Measurement Scale: Questions utilized multiple-choice formats and a 5-point Likert scale (from âstrongly disagreeâ to âstrongly agreeâ).
- Reliability Testing: Cronbachâs Alpha yielded a value of 0.816, indicating good internal consistency of the measurement instrument.
- Inferential Analysis: Employed Spearmanâs rank correlation, Pearson Chi-Square, and Fisher-Freeman-Halton Exact Tests to determine statistically significant associations between variables (e.g., role clarity and operational delays).
6CCVD Solutions & Capabilities
Section titled â6CCVD Solutions & CapabilitiesâThe research strongly advocates for the adoption of advanced security technologiesâspecifically Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Biometrics, and AI-driven systemsâto overcome human factor vulnerabilities. These solutions require high-performance, durable materials that only MPCVD diamond can reliably provide.
Applicable Materials for High-Reliability Authentication Systems
Section titled âApplicable Materials for High-Reliability Authentication Systemsâ| Application Requirement | 6CCVD Material Recommendation | Technical Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Biometric Sensors (Fingerprint/Facial) | Optical Grade SCD or High-Purity PCD | Diamondâs exceptional optical transparency and hardness (Mohs 10) provide robust, scratch-resistant windows for high-resolution scanners, ensuring long-term reliability and data integrity. |
| Secure Hardware Tokens/SSO Devices | Electronic Grade SCD or Thermally Managed PCD Substrates | Diamond offers the highest known thermal conductivity, crucial for dissipating heat from secure processors and high-speed communication chips embedded in hardware tokens, ensuring stable operation under load. |
| AI-Driven Authentication Processors | Heavy Boron-Doped Diamond (BDD) | BDD acts as a robust semiconductor material, enabling the development of radiation-hardened, high-power density electronics necessary for secure, contextual access control and AI processing recommended by the study. |
| High-Frequency Communication | High-Purity SCD Wafers | Diamondâs low dielectric loss and high carrier mobility are essential for integrated circuits used in secure wireless communication protocols (e.g., NFC, secure element communication) within MFA devices. |
Customization Potential for Security Integrators
Section titled âCustomization Potential for Security Integratorsâ6CCVD recognizes that implementing robust security requires highly customized hardware components. We offer comprehensive fabrication services tailored to the needs of advanced authentication system developers:
- Custom Dimensions: We supply PCD plates and wafers up to 125mm in diameter, ideal for large-format biometric scanning surfaces or high-volume substrate manufacturing.
- Precision Thickness Control: We provide SCD and PCD layers ranging from 0.1”m to 500”m, allowing precise integration of diamond films into complex sensor stacks or as thin-film protective coatings.
- Advanced Metalization: Our internal capabilities include the deposition of critical contact and bonding layers (Au, Pt, Pd, Ti, W, Cu) directly onto diamond substrates, facilitating seamless integration of diamond components into electronic security modules.
- Surface Finish: We guarantee ultra-smooth surfaces, with Ra < 1nm for SCD and Ra < 5nm for inch-size PCD, critical for high-fidelity optical and electronic sensor performance.
Engineering Support
Section titled âEngineering SupportâThe transition to hardware-centric security, as recommended by this research, requires expert material consultation. 6CCVDâs in-house PhD team specializes in optimizing diamond material selection and fabrication parameters for high-reliability authentication systems, secure element packaging, and advanced biometric sensor integration projects. We ensure that the material properties of the diamond component meet the stringent performance and durability requirements of next-generation cybersecurity hardware.
For custom specifications or material consultation, visit 6ccvd.com or contact our engineering team directly.
View Original Abstract
Abstract This study investigates password management challenges and human factor vulnerabilities within a South African district health department using a quantitative approach with 50 respondents. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed, guided by the Human Factor Diamond (HFD) model as an analytical lens. Results highlight poor password hygiene, with 60% of users reusing passwords and 20% never updating them. Significant associations were found between operational delays and unclear role assignment (p <.001), while a positive correlation (Ï =.416, p =.003) linked perceived system security with data protection confidence. Inconsistent training and decentralised policy enforcement exacerbate cybersecurity risks. While nearly half of the respondents rated current reset mechanisms as effective, many expressed the need for clearer guidance, stronger safeguards, and improved support. Human factors, including digital literacy, preparedness, and role clarity, emerged as central barriers to effective password management. The study recommends centralised oversight, enhanced training, and secure, user-friendly technologies such as multi-factor authentication and AI-supported reset systems.