Cyber Resilience in SMEs: The Forgotten Global Security Crisis

This research commentary examines the growing challenges of cybersecurity and operational resilience affecting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in increasingly interconnected digital economies. The paper explores ransomware threats, phishing attacks, governance limitations, operational resilience gaps, AI-driven cyber risks, and the growing importance of continuous cybersecurity awareness and proactive auditing within SME environments. The study further proposes a lightweight SME Cyber Resilience Governance Model designed to improve organisational preparedness through governance oversight, operational risk visibility, incident readiness, continuous auditing, and cybersecurity awareness. The discussion contributes to emerging conversations surrounding cybersecurity governance, digital trust, operational resilience, and SME cyber preparedness within modern digital ecosystems.