The Mechanism and Key Actors of Economic Security Management of Russian SME Entities in Conditions of High Uncertainty and Escalating Turbulence of the Functioning Environment in 2026

The purpose of this study is to identify and classify current threats to the economic security of small and mediumsized enterprises under present conditions of high uncertainty and escalating turbulence of the functioning environment, and to develop measures for their effective counteraction. The paper identifies the range of key actors in the process of economic security (ES) management of the SME sector and forms a list of measures necessary to ensure its optimal state. In the process of analyzing the complex impact of external and internal threats on the ES level of SME entities, the author proves the current dominance of external factors, highlighting the exceptional role of the state in neutralizing the latter and minimizing the damage they cause. At the same time, the article substantiates the leading role of owners and management of small and medium-sized businesses in effectively countering internal ES threats that are within the scope of their managerial influence. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the author's formulation of the concept of "the mechanism of economic security management of SME entities" and the determination of its characteristics, the clarification of the concept of "threat to the economic security of economic entities," the identification of the range of main actors in the ES management process, and the formation of a list of measures implemented by them to achieve the optimal state of economic security. The practical significance of the study lies in the development of an algorithm for ES management of SME entities and the elaboration of practical recommendations for the actors of the process.