Society is advancing rapidly, with technology continually evolving. An increasing number of businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), are undergoing digitization, resulting in a greater volume of information being accessible online. This progress, however, introduces challenges, notably in the area of cybersecurity. Given that SMEs constitute the majority of companies in Sweden, and many of those are undergoing digitization, they are especially vulnerable to cyber attacks.

A literature review and a survey have been conducted to provide an overview of the significant role SMEs play in society, how these companies manage security, the common breaches they encountered, and their application of standards and policies to meet legal requirements.The survey analysis offers insights into the cybersecurity challenges faced by Swedish SMEs, highlighting how they prioritized security to benefit their business and adapt standards and policies to their operational needs. The completed questionnaire was subjected to both qualitative and quantitative analysis and provided a comprehensive understanding of the results. Qualitative analysis was employed to examine the responses to open-ended questions, whereas quantitative analysis was utilized to assess the numerical data.

The findings reveal that the primary challenges for Swedish SMEs are a lack of knowledge, insufficient funding, and unclear guidelines for implementing standards and best practices. Swedish SMEs perceive that security requirements imposed on companies vary depending on whether they engage with the private or public sector, significantly influencing how these companies prioritize their security measures. In summary, there is a prevalent need for support among Swedish SMEs. The preferred form of support includes training, inspiration, and information delivered through webinars and network meetings.