The recent study by Dr Goni Saar, The DaVinci Institute’s doctoral alumnus, explored the growing cybersecurity challenges facing Zambia’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), emphasizing the urgent need for improved cyber awareness and practical solutions. As digital technology becomes integral to business operations, SMEs are increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats such as phishing, ransomware, and financial fraud. This vulnerability is compounded by a lack of formal cybersecurity strategies, limited employee training, and outdated IT infrastructure.
The Awareness Gaps of Cybersecurity
The research identified a critical gap in the level of cybersecurity awareness among SME employees and business leaders. Most respondents demonstrated limited understanding of cyber threats, with many businesses relying solely on basic antivirus programmes. Often, cybersecurity was viewed as a technical responsibility confined to IT departments or upper management, rather than a shared organisational duty.
This disconnect reflects broader systemic issues, including poor regulatory enforcement, limited cybersecurity education, and a lack of financial resources for implementing robust protective measures.
Research Methodology
Methodologically, the study has employed an interpretivist, qualitative approach. Through semi-structured interviews with 20 participants from Zambia’s SME sector and analysis of local and international cybersecurity frameworks, such as those provided by CISA, ENISA, and Zambia’s Data Protection Act, the research uncovered a nuanced picture of Zambia’s cybersecurity readiness.
The interviews revealed three dominant themes: general lack of knowledge about cybersecurity practices, organisational challenges in promoting awareness, and the absence of internal monitoring or policy enforcement.
Recommendations from The Study
To address these gaps, the researcher proposed a Cybersecurity Awareness Framework tailored to Zambia’s SME context. This framework is adapted from the “Cybersecurity Awareness and Education” model by Kortjan and Von Solms (2014), incorporating three practical layers, strategic, tactical, and monitoring.
It emphasizes integrating cybersecurity into business governance, establishing internal accountability units, regular employee training, and consistent monitoring of policy adherence.
The framework highlights five core elements: employee responsibility, actionable cybersecurity policies, training programs, employee behavior monitoring, and proactive action. This approach aims to shift cybersecurity from a reactive to a proactive practice embedded in daily operations.
The study also stresses the importance of cultivating a cyber-aware culture across all organizational levels and ensuring employees understand their role in protecting company data.
From a theoretical standpoint, this research contextualises global cybersecurity best practices within the realities of a developing country. It contributes to existing literature by focusing on human factors, especially employees’ perceptions, responsibilities, and actions, in cybersecurity effectiveness.
Methodologically, it pioneers a localised framework for awareness, while practically offering applicable recommendations that can influence national policy, as government stakeholders have shown interest in the findings.
Zambia’s broader socio-economic context also plays a role. Ranked 73rd globally and 10th in Africa on the Global Cybersecurity Index (2020), Zambia still lags in implementing comprehensive cybersecurity measures. Issues such as outdated laws, limited public education, and minimal investment in digital infrastructure further hinder progress.
Moreover, the country’s classification as a “developing” nation with a medium Human Development Index score underlines the structural challenges that affect the implementation of digital protections.
The Focus Area
Despite comprehensive research, some limitations exist. The study’s sample focused primarily on digitally enabled SMEs, potentially overlooking those in more traditional industries. Additionally, it relied on older demographic and economic data due to limited access to up-to-date records.
Finally, the study makes a compelling case for prioritising cybersecurity in Zambia’s business sector. It demonstrated that improving cybersecurity awareness is not merely a technological challenge, but it is a strategic, educational, and cultural issue. With the right policies, frameworks, and organisational commitment, SMEs in Zambia can become more resilient against cyber threats, ultimately contributing to national economic stability and digital trust.
Leave a Reply