The dissertation provides insight into theoretical and practical principles of state security policy mechanisms in the information sphere of Ukraine and the identification of ways to improve them.
It presents a systematic analysis of conceptual and categorical framework of the study on the state security policy mechanisms in the information sphere of Ukraine, which allowed to conclude that the state security policy in the information sphere should be considered as a component of the state policy in national security and as measures taken by the actors of public management, which include as follows: defining a set of mutually-linked purposes in the information sphere; delivery mechanisms; staffing, logistics and compliance with certain principles, namely: ensuring freedom of speech; adequacy of information protection measures for state interests, etc.
The dissertation presents a conceptual framework of the integrated state security policy mechanism in the information sphere at different levels of administration (national, regional) and the complex of political, organizational and institutional, financial and economic, socio-psychological, information and communication, motivational mechanisms.
The paper structurizes the institutional and legal framework of the state security policy in the information sphere of Ukraine by a generalization and specialization level of the framework; it finds that it is advisable to divide it into four blocks: the international acts and provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine; regulations comprising conceptual and legal framework of information security; laws and regulations of Ukraine on information security and regulatory legal acts on the regional information security policy and the information reintegration strategy for the occupied Ukrainian territories.
The paper identifies priorities of state security policy in the information sphere of Ukraine, including but not limited to forming an integrated assessment of information security threats; improving state institutions powers and authority; creating information security institutions; developing e-governance and information technologies; and reforming government communications.
The paper suggests an improved criteria system on efficiency of state security policy mechanisms in the information sphere of Ukraine by supplementing it with the analysis findings on the dynamics of Fragile States Index, Security Index Apparatus, and structural elements of Global Cybersecurity Index, which allows to identify the dynamics of the state of information security in comparison with other nation states, carry out a content analysis of tasks under specific guidance documents on safety issues, and to resolve other issues.
It substantiates the conceptual framework for the model of a comprehensive state security policy mechanism in the information sphere, which allows for a systematic strategic-oriented approach to the policy formation and the applicability of the “inverted tree (risk and threat breakdown structure)” scheme when identifying threats to state security in the information sphere.
The dissertation presents a theoretical substantiation of the ways to maintain the state security level in the information sphere through strengthening the security of its own information systems, constant comprehensive assessment of the information systems of its potential opponents; modeling of the mechanism of threat countermeasure, which includes: their detection, identification and evaluation, determination of counteraction methods (legal and regulatory, technical and technological, procedural, legal, psychological, technical, electronic, communication etc.).
The dissertation contains a developed practical guidance on the improvement of state security policy mechanisms in the information sphere by adding value of governmental agencies synergy and enhancing the involvement of civil society institutions in the development and implementation of this policy. It also identifies a range of priority tasks for maintaining the state security level in the information sphere by strengthening the protection of national information systems.
The paper has further developed directions of improvement for state security policy mechanisms in the information sphere though the establishment of the State Information Security Coordination Center within the regular staff of executive bodies (with its initial functions as follows: integral analysis of threats to the state security in the information sphere and consideration of response options respectively, organizing information security measures in critical national security matters) and the establishment of the Association of Non-governmental Information
Keywords: state, national security, state security, information security, public administration, public policy.
