The impact of technological and economic factors on cybersecurity management and MSME performance

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18568/internext.v20i03.847

Keywords:

Cybersecurity Management, Micro, Small and medium-sized enterprises, Technological Factors, Economic Factors, and Protection Motivation Theory

Abstract

Objetivo: Este estudo aplica a teoria da motivação para a proteção como arcabouço teórico para explorar como fatores tecnológicos e econômicos influenciam o desempenho de micro, pequenas e médias empresas no Iraque, com foco específico no papel mediador da gestão da segurança cibernética. Método: Foi utilizado um delineamento de pesquisa quantitativa, envolvendo a coleta de dados de 384 funcionários de micro, pequenas e médias empresas por meio de questionários online e presenciais. Principais Resultados: A análise revelou que a gestão da segurança cibernética é significativamente afetada por fatores tecnológicos e econômicos. Por sua vez, uma gestão eficaz da segurança cibernética impacta positivamente o desempenho das micro, pequenas e médias empresas. Além disso, a gestão da segurança cibernética atua como um mediador fundamental na relação entre esses fatores externos e o sucesso empresarial. Contribuições Teóricas / Metodológicas: Este estudo oferece contribuições teóricas e práticas. Teoricamente, expande a aplicação da teoria da motivação para a proteção ao contexto da segurança cibernética e do desempenho de micro, pequenas e médias empresas. Metodologicamente, fornece uma estrutura robusta para avaliar os efeitos mediadores nesse domínio. Na prática, a pesquisa oferece insights práticos para formuladores de políticas e proprietários de empresas, enfatizando a importância de estratégias de segurança cibernética acessíveis e programas de suporte direcionados para melhorar a resiliência empresarial e reduzir a vulnerabilidade a ameaças cibernéticas.

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Published

2025-10-02

How to Cite

Zaidan, M. N., & Massoudi, A. H. (2025). The impact of technological and economic factors on cybersecurity management and MSME performance. Internext - International Business and Management Review , 20(03). https://doi.org/10.18568/internext.v20i03.847

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