- Title
- A strategy for cybersecurity vulnerability management in the South African retail sector
- Creator
- Madotyeni,Hlalanathi
- Subject
- Computer security
- Subject
- Computer networks -- Security measures
- Subject
- Data protection
- Date Issued
- 2022-04
- Date
- 2022-04
- Type
- Master's theses
- Type
- text
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10948/68714
- Identifier
- vital:77084
- Description
- Retail organisations have a vision and strategic objectives, and achieving these objectives relies heavily on the use of technology. This shift has sparked greater global public adoption of technology and compelled retailers to create strategies that set this transformation in motion. The retail industry is rapidly evolving as the real and digital worlds intersect, creating new business opportunities and challenges that were unthinkable years ago. Fresh, rapid global development is propelling the retail sector, intensifying its already fierce competition. The main reasons retailers have embraced technology are to cut expenses and improve operations. Customer satisfaction, e-commerce sites, augmented reality, customer feedback, inventory control, and price auditing are ways that technology improves retail business operations. Although technology offers the retail sector many advantages, it also brings challenges, notably growing cybersecurity threats, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and cybersecurity risks. These cybersecurity concerns are increasingly severe, impacting the business operations of retail organisations negatively. Cybercrimes, commonly known as vulnerabilities and cyberthreats, expose the retail sector to unexpected cybersecurity events. Experts predict that cybercrime will cost corporations approximately USD 10.5 billion by 2025. Since South Africa has the most developed retail industry in sub-Saharan Africa, cybercrime is more likely to affect its retailers, making effective cybersecurity vulnerability management strategies imperative. A South African retail giant fell victim to cybercrimes that compromised data totalling more than 3.6 million records, resulting in a potential fine of up to R10 million issued by the Information Regulator. Data breach costs and loss of customer confidence are additional negative impacts suffered by retailers. To address these issues effectively, a cybersecurity vulnerability management strategy must be developed. Developing a cybersecurity vulnerability management strategy is the primary objective of this study, it will help the retailers in South Africa better manage cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The research paradigm used in the study is the Nelson Mandela University Design Science Strategy Methodology (NMU-DSSM). To comprehend the present state of a retail organisation's approach and activities linked to cybersecurity vulnerability management, a qualitative research methodology was used. The outcomes of the semi-structured research interviews and the literature study were utilised to develop a cybersecurity vulnerability strategy for the retail industry in South Africa. Future studies will assess the implementation strategy's usefulness and efficacy. The research on cybersecurity vulnerability management in relation to South African retail organisations is enhanced by this study's findings.
- Description
- Thesis (MPhil) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, School of Information Technology, 2024
- Format
- computer
- Format
- online resource
- Format
- application/pdf
- Format
- 1 online resource (157 pages)
- Format
- Publisher
- Nelson Mandela University
- Publisher
- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Nelson Mandela University
- Rights
- All Rights Reserved
- Rights
- Open Access
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Collections
NMU School of Information and Communication Technology
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | Madotyeni, H.pdf | 2 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |