Consumers on the Frontline: Rethinking Cybersecurity in the Marketplace (CoCYBER)
Name of applicant
Stefanie Sohn
Title
Associate Professor
Institution
University of Southern Denmark
Amount
DKK 6,459,800
Year
2025
Type of grant
Semper Ardens: Accelerate
What?
CoCYBER introduces Consumer Cybersecurity Engagement (CCE), reframing consumers as co-responsible actors in corporate cybersecurity. It explores the psychological drivers and well-being effects of CCE, how firms can activate CCE, as well as how and when effective communication of CCE fosters trust and loyalty in marketplace settings.
Why?
Cyberattacks increasingly target consumers as entry points to organizations, yet their role in corporate cybersecurity remains poorly understood. CoCYBER addresses this gap by examining how and why consumers engage in corporate cybersecurity, ensuring resilience in digital marketplaces while advancing both research and practice.
How?
CoCYBER employs surveys, experiments, and interviews with consumers and firms in Denmark, Germany, and the United States to conceptualize CCE. By integrating marketing, psychology, and computer science, it develops strategies to measure, activate, and communicate CCE, delivering insights for business, consumer protection, and policy.