Cybersecurity threats among SMEs in Malaysia: risks and challenges

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in Malaysia's economic development by significantly contributing to employment and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, these enterprises increasingly face cybersecurity threats, which underscores the urgent need to address the specific operational risks and challenges they encounter. Therefore, this paper aims to provide an overview of cybersecurity and outline prevalent threats, emphasizing their impacts as demonstrated in the existing literature. Additionally, the paper examines the barriers and challenges SMEs encounter and offers practical recommendations aimed at enhancing their cybersecurity resilience. This work greatly enhances the understanding of cybersecurity issues for SMEs and addresses important gaps in the existing body of knowledge.