An Analysis of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises' Perceptions of Security Evaluation in Cloud Business Intelligence

The research work reported in this paper focuses on small and medium-sized enterprises' perceptions of security evaluation of cloud business intelligence systems. The purpose of the study was to investigate SMEs owner/managers' perceptions on security evaluations. The study was important in that it explored an area which was previously being ignored. Although SMEs owners/managers may not be very technical, it cannot be assumed that they could adopt and use cloud business intelligence systems or any other information technology without some security evaluations. A quantitative cross sectional survey was conducted with a networking sample of 120 SMEs owners/managers from six South African provinces. Data was collected using a close-ended online questionnaire, then analysed using Statistical Package for Social Scientist. Simple frequency distribution tables and graphs were used to present results. A number of findings were made in this study. The quality of the IT facilities was acceptably basic and good showing bright improvement from what is reported in previous studies. The most preferred cloud deployment model was public followed by community. Most of the SMEs stored both sensitive and non-sensitive data in the public cloud. With regard to stage of adoption and use, the majority had adopted CBIs but with limited use. The majority of the SMEs had been using CBIs for less than three years. The majority of the SMEs owners were familiar with security cloud-based services in general. The awareness varied from challenge to challenge withe hacking and data theft at the top of the list. The perceptions on security evaluations were based on physical checking of systems and data centres and actually visiting the providers. The study concluded that SMEs' perceptions in security evaluation played an important role in influencing owners in deciding whether to adopt cloud business intelligence systems or not. The study also concluded that unlike yester year, current SMEs owners/managers have basic knowledge in security which they use whenever they decide to adopt and use technology.