In recent years, a growing number of companies have become victims of supply chain attacks, a trend that is projected to increase significantly. Austrian enterprises are not immune to this threat. In supply chain cyberattacks, the weakest link invariably represents the point of greatest vulnerability. Consequently, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are particularly attractive targets due to their general lack of awareness of their role in these attacks. Additionally, SMEs face numerous challenges inherent to their nature. This thesis examines the challenges faced by Austrian SMEs and explores their specific characteristics in the realm of supply chain cybersecurity. This thesis is organized into four chapters. The first chapter reviews the existing literature on supply chain cybersecurity, identifying the critical factors through comprehensive literature research. The second chapter focuses on best practice examples, primarily sourced from governmental guidelines, industry standards, and established certifications, such as ISO 27001 and ISO 27002. This is followed by a detailed description of the research methodology. A qualitative research methodology was deemed the most suitable for addressing the research question. Consequently, semistructured interviews with experts from the fields of IT and business management were conducted. These interviews provided valuable insights beyond the predefined questions, enhancing the depth of the research findings. The results and analysis of the interviews are presented in the fourth chapter. The findings of this thesis highlight specific cybersecurity challenges related to the supply chain in Austrian SMEs. The interviews uncovered barriers and identified particular hurdles that SMEs face. These insights can be leveraged to pinpoint the exact areas where Austrian SMEs require support. Consequently, larger companies can offer targeted assistance to their SME partners within the supply chain, enhancing overall security resilience.
Date of Award | 2024 |
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Original language | German (Austria) |
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Supervisor | Veit Kohnhauser (Supervisor) |
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Herausforderungen in österreichischen KMU bei der Supply Chain Cyber Security
Grabner, D. (Author). 2024
Student thesis: Master's Thesis