Beyond Technicalities

Assessing Cyber Risk by Incorporating Human Factors

Wenjing Huang, Sasha Romanosky, Joe Uchill

ResearchPublished Jul 9, 2025

The growing reliance on technology makes managing cyber risks harder, especially as human factors play a key role. While firms often focus on technical controls, human behavior and organizational culture add complexity. In this report, the authors explore the human factors related to cyber incidents and propose using psychometrics, machine learning, and tailored interventions to better assess and reduce vulnerability to human-centric cyber threats.

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Huang, Wenjing, Sasha Romanosky, and Joe Uchill, Beyond Technicalities: Assessing Cyber Risk by Incorporating Human Factors. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2025. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA3841-1.html.
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