Digital Security Awareness and Behavioral Intent to Adopt Digital Safety Practices among Telecom Sector Employees in Pakistan

Abstract

As telecom firms in Pakistan expand digital operations, employee behavior has become a frontline defense against cyber threats. This quantitative study examines how cybersecurity awareness, perceived organizational support, perceived severity of cyber threats, and self-efficacy predict employees’ behavioral intention to adopt digital safety practices. A structured survey was administered to 520 employees across three major telecom operators and regional offices. Using reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation modeling (SEM), results indicate that cybersecurity awareness, perceived organizational support, and self-efficacy significantly and positively predict behavioral intention, while perceived severity has an indirect effect mediated by self-efficacy. Practical implications include targeted training design, leadership engagement, and integrating behavioral nudges into daily workflows. The study contributes empirically to organizational cyber-behavior literature in emerging markets and offers actionable recommendations for telecom HR and security teams.