Secure Cloud Computing Adoption: A Study of the Role of Cybersecurity Concerns in Medium-Sized Enterprises in India

Abstract

The study examines how cybersecurity issues are relevant in shaping the use of cloud computing (CC) among the medium-sized enterprises (MSEs) in India. Although cloud technologies have significant benefits like reduction of costs, scalability, flexibility, and resource effectiveness, the perceived security risk, a lack of trust in service providers, and resource limitations of the organisation often prove to be a barrier to their adoption. The research design relies on a descriptive study in which primary data were summarised through structured surveys and secondary data were summarised through scholarly and industrial sources to examine the effects of cybersecurity issues, organisational preparedness, environmental influences, perceived risks and benefits, and trust in service providers on the decisions on adopting a CC. To determine the predictors that are significant in predicting the adoption behaviour, statistical analyses, including regression modelling, were used. The results indicate that the adoption is highly motivated by technological readiness, financial capacity, trust towards service providers, and perceived benefits, and vendor lock-in and availability concerns are the major obstacles. The research gives practical guidance to policy makers, cloud service providers, and business administrators to come up with safe, economically viable and confidence-building approaches to fast-tracking cloud adoption among Indian MSEs.