Citation: Rawindaran, N.; Jayal, A.;
Prakash, E. Exploration of the Impact
of Cybersecurity Awareness on Small
and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in
Wales Using Intelligent Software to
Combat Cybercrime. Computers 2022,
11, 174. https://doi.org/10.3390/
computers11120174
Academic Editors: Phivos Mylonas,
Katia Lida Kermanidis and
Manolis Maragoudakis
Received: 3 November 2022
Accepted: 29 November 2022
Published: 3 December 2022
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4.0/).
Article
Exploration of the Impact of Cybersecurity Awareness on Small
and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Wales Using Intelligent
Software to Combat Cybercrime
Nisha Rawindaran
1,2
, Ambikesh Jayal
3,
* and Edmond Prakash
4
1
Cardiff School of Technologies, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff CF5 2XJ, Wales, UK
2
Aytel Systems Ltd., Cardiff CF3 2PU, Wales, UK
3
School of Information Systems and Technology, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia
4
Research Centre for Creative Technologies, University of the Creative Arts, Farnham GU9 7DS, Surrey, UK
* Correspondence: ambi.jayal@canberra.edu.au
Abstract:
Intelligent software packages have become fast-growing in popularity for large businesses
in both developed and developing countries, due to their higher availability in detecting and pre-
venting cybercrime. However, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are showing prominent gaps
in this adoption due to their level of awareness and knowledge towards cyber security and the
security mindset. This is due to their priority of running their businesses over requiring using the
right technology in protecting their data. This study explored how SMEs in Wales are handling
cybercrime and managing their daily online activities the best they can, in keeping their data safe in
tackling cyber threats. The sample collected consisted of 122 Welsh SME respondents in a collection
of data through a survey questionnaire. The results and findings showed that there were large gaps
in the awareness and knowledge of using intelligent software, in particular the uses of machine
learning integration within their technology to track and combat complex cybercrime that perhaps
would have been missed by standard cyber security software packages. The study’s findings showed
that only 30% of the sampled SMEs understood the terminology of cyber security. The awareness
of machine learning and its algorithms was also questioned in the implementation of their cyber
security software packages. The study further highlighted that Welsh SMEs were unaware of what
this software could do to protect their data. The findings in this paper also showed that various
elements such as education and the size of SME made an impact on their choices for the right software
packages being implemented, compared to elements such as age, gender, role and being a decision
maker, having no impact on these choices. The study finally shares the investigations of various SME
strategies to help understand the risks, and to be able to plan for future contingencies and preparation
in keeping data safe and secure for the future.
Keywords: machine learning; cyber security; SME; intelligent software; cyber threats
1. Introduction
Wales is a leading hub in the United Kingdom’s fast-growing cyber security sector.
Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Wales are changing in its technology
landscape. Wales is the home for thriving businesses contributing back to the Welsh
economy. With an estimated 262,800 enterprises, both large and small, that are active in
Wales, employing an estimated 1.2 million people, SMEs in Wales account for 62.6% of
employment and 39.4% of turnover, with large enterprises accounting for the remainder in
2021. Therefore, the majority of active enterprises of SMEs (0–249 employees), accounted for
99.4% of total enterprises in Wales in 2021. Micro enterprises (0–9 employees) accounted for
95.0% of the total enterprises in Wales. In the same year, wholesale, retail, transport, hotels,
food and communication were the largest sectors in Wales, with 65,200 enterprises and the
employment of 394,300 people. Being a devolved nation of the United Kingdom, for Wales,
Computers 2022, 11, 174. https://doi.org/10.3390/computers11120174 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/computers
