Integration of Scenario-Based Learning in CyberTOMP with FLECO Studio: Enhancing Situational Awareness Training in Cybersecurity

Situational awareness is crucial in cybersecurity to identify, understand, and anticipate cyber threats, and to make effective decisions during cyber crises. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a hands-on approach based on interactive scenarios using FLECO Studio software, integrated into the holistic management model CyberTOMP, compared to a traditional lecture-based approach framed within the same model. An experiment was designed with 200 participants, divided into a treatment group (70%) and a control group (30%). Both groups received training aimed at increasing their level of situational awareness in cybersecurity, with assessments conducted before and after the training. The treatment group employed the interactive scenario-based approach modeled with FLECO Studio, while the control group received traditional lecture-based training. To mitigate potential biases, preventive measures were implemented during the design and analysis of the study. The statistically analyzed results illustrated a significant improvement (up to 54%) in the situational awareness level of the treatment group, along with a strongly positive perception of effectiveness among the participants. These findings suggest that the interactive scenario-based approach, using tools embedded within a comprehensive holistic framework, significantly enhances the acquisition of situational awareness capabilities in cybersecurity compared to a traditional lecture-based approach.