Electronic government and network security: a viewpoint

Purpose Creating network security is a crucial challenge not only in the area of electronic government, but also for the information society in general. The purpose of this paper is to show that the related problems cannot be tackled successfully by technical measures alone. More wide and encompassing solutions are required. Design/methodology/approach This paper deals with the character, preconditions and implications of network security from a managerial point of view in order to identify the starting‐points for a sustainable promotion of network security in the area of electronic government. Findings This paper shows that the suitable starting‐point for the development of security solutions within a social unit like a public authority and in the society altogether is viewing the problem as a socio‐technical task. A rational design of security processes is required promoted by an effective security management, which in its turn is rooted in an appropriate security culture. Originality/value This paper addresses the problems of network security in the area of electronic government from a comprehensive point of view and offers a basic strategy to deal with them.