| Information technology (IT) security threats and vulnerabilities have become a major concern for organizations in the United States. However, there has been little research on assessing the effect of IT security professionals' knowledge on the use of IT security controls. This study examined the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) by focusing via survey methods on the relationship between IT security professionals' knowledge of IT control measures and their behavioral intention to use IT security controls. First, standard multiple regression analysis was performed to examine and analyze the relationship between IT professionals' performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence and their behavioral intention to use IT security controls. The study focused on the knowledge item of facilitating knowledge on the UTAUT instrument of the facilitating conditions construct. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed to examine and analyze the moderating effect of IT security professionals' knowledge on other variables. Statistical analysis of this study shows that there was positive correlation between IT professionals' knowledge and their behavioral intention to use IT security controls. The analysis also shows that the moderating effect of facilitating knowledge on performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence significantly increased the variance in behavioral intention to use. Finally, directions for future research and concluding remarks are offered. |
