Securing Virtual Workspaces: Examining The Mediating Role of Perceived Security Between Technology Adoption and Privacy Awareness

With the rapid advancement and widespread adoption of digital technologies, concerns about privacy have become increasingly prominent. Despite growing awareness, many users still struggle to understand how technology adoption impacts their privacy awareness, especially when mediated by perceived security measures. This study aims to develop a conceptual framework that examines the relationship between technology adoption and privacy awareness, focusing specifically on the mediating role of perceived security. Using narrative review methodology, relevant literature was systematically analyzed through the Scopus database. The findings reveal that security plays a critical mediating role by enhancing users’ trust and confidence, which in turn strengthens their awareness and protective behaviors related to privacy. Additionally, factors such as organizational readiness, user knowledge, and perceived risks were found to influence this relationship significantly. The study contributes to theory by integrating security as a key mediator in technology adoption models, providing a nuanced understanding of how privacy awareness is shaped. Practically, the results emphasize the importance for organizations to invest not only in advanced privacy-enhancing technologies but also in comprehensive security measures and user education programs to foster a privacy-conscious culture. However, given the conceptual nature of the study, future research should empirically test the proposed framework through longitudinal studies and cross-cultural comparisons to further validate the findings and examine other potential mediators across different cultural and technological environments. Overall, this research underscores the vital role of security in bridging technology adoption and privacy awareness, offering valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers alike.