Integrating Interdisciplinary Theories and Metrics for Assessing Cyber Resilience in SMEs Amid Emerging Threats

As we step into the era of Industry 4.0, digitalization is reshaping business and societal interactions. While this transformation brings numerous benefits—enhancing convenience, speed, and simplicity—it has also made organisations, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), increasingly vulnerable to digital risks. The rapid development of new technologies often outpaces the ability to fully comprehend and manage the associated risks, resulting in unpreparedness for the growing threat of cybercrimes. SMEs face heightened vulnerability due to their limited resources and inadequate risk assessment frameworks. The complexity of cyber threats continues to evolve alongside technological advancements, with the unpredictable nature of these risks resembling the chaotic impacts of natural disasters. Small disruptions can lead to disproportionately large consequences. Furthermore, human behaviours and cultural factors, frequently underestimated in cybersecurity strategies, play a critical role in shaping how SMEs respond to these challenges. In this paper, we aim to explore interdisciplinary approaches to resilience from various fields. By drawing on perspectives beyond conventional cybersecurity frameworks, we seek to develop a more comprehensive approach to understanding and mitigating the risks SMEs face. Through a review of literature from diverse disciplines, this short paper will be the initial preparation work for the further research on means that can make SMEs more resilient to cyber threats and crimes.