Publicação
The impact of cyberattacks on the brand image ofhigher education institutions: the case study of the Polytechnic of Leiria
| datacite.subject.fos | Engenharia e Tecnologia::Outras Engenharias e Tecnologias | |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Antunes, Mário João Gonçalves | |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Lisboa, Ana Catarina Cadima | |
| dc.contributor.author | Santo, Maria Cipriano Espírito | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-06-26T12:46:39Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-06-26T12:46:39Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2026-06-11 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Cyberattacks have become a growing concern for higher education institutions, generating consequences that extend well beyond operational disruption into institutional reputation, stakeholder trust, and brand credibility. Despite this, the cybersecurity and brand management literatures have largely evolved in isolation from one another, leaving institutions without integrated frameworks for understanding and responding to ransomware incidents as both technical and reputational crises. This dissertation addresses that gap by exploring the impact of a ransomware attack on the brand image of a public higher education institution in Portugal, the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria. Using a qualitative case study approach, the research combines semi-structured interviews with institutional stakeholders, document analysis, and media monitoring to assess both technical and reputational consequences of the May 2023 Akira ransomware incident. The findings indicate that, although the attack exposed vulnerabilities in infrastructure and incident response planning, the institution's transparent communication strategy and timely coordination with national authorities contributed to mitigating reputational damage. The study further highlights the importance of integrating cybersecurity and crisis communication within institutional reputation management, particularly in academic environments where trust and public perception are critical. In addition, the dissertation proposes practical recommendations to strengthen institutional resilience, including diversified backup strategies, enhanced stakeholder engagement, and cybersecurity awareness initiatives. This research contributes to the emerging intersection of cybersecurity governance and institutional reputation management in higher education, offering insights for both academic literature and institutional practice. | eng |
| dc.identifier.tid | 204318653 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10400.8/16468 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.rights.uri | N/A | |
| dc.subject | Higher education | |
| dc.subject | Ransomware | |
| dc.subject | Cybersecurity | |
| dc.subject | Crisis Communication | |
| dc.subject | Resilience | |
| dc.subject | Brand management | |
| dc.title | The impact of cyberattacks on the brand image ofhigher education institutions: the case study of the Polytechnic of Leiria | |
| dc.type | master thesis | |
| dspace.entity.type | Publication |