Exploring the Human Side of Cybersecurity Threats
By Shelby Luquet
At Mississippi State University, Dr. Kent Marett, professor in the Department of Management and Information Systems within the College of Business, is leading research that addresses one of the most persistent challenges in cybersecurity: human behavior.
Marett’s work focuses on how individuals respond to phishing attempts and other deceptive cyber tactics, particularly within organizational settings. His research emphasizes that no matter how advanced technology becomes, human error remains a major vulnerability.
“The famous hacker Kevin Mitnick once wrote that there is no hardware or software solution that can prevent careless behavior,” Marett said. “The human is always the weakest link in information security. That is what drives me and my colleagues here at MSU to keep scratching away at this problem.”
Marett's interest in this field began during his doctoral studies, where he explored computer-mediated deceptive communication. Over time, his focus evolved into the behavioral aspects of information security, an area where MSU has built strong research capacity.
He collaborates closely with current and former Ph.D. students, as well as colleagues across both Management and Information Systems disciplines. These partnerships, he said, are vital to the success of his research.
“I’ve been fortunate to work with talented researchers from around the U.S. and the world,” Marett said. “Growing up in Amory, Mississippi, I never imagined I’d be collaborating with people from places I couldn’t even find on a globe. I’ve learned so much from those experiences.”
Looking ahead, Marett sees artificial intelligence as a growing factor in the cybersecurity landscape, both as a tool for defense and a potential vector for new threats.
“The field of information security never stands still,” he said. “That’s what keeps me both excited and concerned.”
As cyber threats continue to evolve, Marett’s work underscores MSU’s commitment to addressing real-world problems through impactful, forward-thinking research.
