Challenges of security classified projects from an IT management viewpoint

Abstract

The rapid rise of security classified projects in engineering and designing creates new challenges for IT management. Moreover, the world has changed a lot in recent years. For example, there is a war in Europe, and cyber security is more important than ever, which means security classified projects are more important than ever. The subject of the research was to study these challenges from cyber security and IT-management viewpoint. Company X ordered the research topic, which was done for their staff. The research was done primarily on the Finnish national level. The research objective was to find challenges in classified security projects and the reasons for them. Identifying these challenges will help to organise these types of projects better and gives background about costs. Furthermore, streamlining the project workflow will help staff understand cyber security regulations better and make security classified projects more efficient. The purpose is to give an overall picture of challenges for Company X and other companies that do security classified projects. It will also provide more information about IT cost structure. Which will help make better offerings for security classified projects. The research used the qualitative research method in the form of a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to map the obstacles in these specific projects. Usually, costs and difficulties with the requirements cause challenges. According to the research most significant issues are with instructions, education and guides for staff. Also, katakri regulations, especially in TL III projects, cause problems with modern software because network connection is not allowed. Furthermore, the author created recommendations for improving security classified projects.