مجلة الاقتصاد وادارة الاعمال
Volume 9, Numéro 2, Pages 43-53
2025-12-20
The Relationship Between Cybersecurity Practices And Business Sustainability In Small And Medium Enterprises: An Applied Study On A Sample Of Employees At Zain Iraq Telecommunications Company
Authors : فوزي محمود .
Abstract
Abstract: This study aims to explore the relationship between cybersecurity practices and business sustainability in small and medium enterprises (SMEs), through a field application on a purposive sample of employees at Zain Iraq Telecommunications Company. The researchers adopted a descriptive-analytical approach and a mixed case study design to integrate quantitative and qualitative data. Data collection tools included analysis of official documents, semi-structured interviews, and an electronic questionnaire comprising four dimensions of cybersecurity practices (security policies, data protection, cybersecurity awareness, and emergency response and four dimensions of business sustainability financial stability, customer satisfaction, operational resilience, and adaptability to changes. For statistical analysis, SPSS version 26 was used to test the internal consistency of the questionnaire items via Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, which showed values ranging from 0.914 to 0.962 for individual dimensions, and 0.970 for the overall scale, confirming the reliability of the instrument. The researchers also verified the normal distribution of data using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, where the Sig. values exceeded the significance level of 0.05, indicating the appropriateness of applying parametric statistical tests. Descriptive results showed that the means of the cybersecurity dimensions ranged between 3.586 and 3.949, while the sustainability dimensions ranged between 3.401 and 3.513, with moderate variance indicators reflecting relative homogeneity in employees’ perceptions. In hypothesis testing, the researchers used Pearson’s correlation coefficient and simple and multiple regression analyses. All correlation coefficients were positive and statistically significant (P ≤ 0.01), with the correlation between security policies and financial stability at 0.754, data protection and customer satisfaction at 0.659, cybersecurity awareness and operational resilience at 0.709, and emergency response and adaptability to changes at 0.601. The overall analysis of cybersecurity practices and business sustainability showed a strong correlation (r = 0.782)The study concludes that enhancing cybersecurity practices goes beyond the technical dimension to become a comprehensive strategy that achieves financial stability, meets customer needs, and supports operational resilience and adaptability. The study recommends establishing an integrated security framework that combines policies, training, and digital governance, in addition to strengthening partnerships between the public and private sectors to provide the necessary resources and support for SMEs in high-risk digital environments.
Keywords
(Keywords): Cybersecurity Practices , Business Sustainability, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Security Policies ,Telecommunications Industry ,Zain Iraq.
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