Towards an electronic retail cybersecurity framework

Abstract

Cybersecurity is one of the five key technologies that will spell the difference between company success and failure. This study seeks to understand cybersecurity environment of e-retail in South Africa. The focus is intended to offer and/or inform the creation of policy for cyber-securing e-Retail organisations in South Africa, and to set parameters through which current legislation on cybersecurity can be made relevant to e-Retailers in terms of compliance, technology and security. It looks into the basis for further research into the security of e-Retailers and how it can be used to support the national cybersecurity plan of South Africa in its entirety. Data on parameters through which current legislation on cybersecurity can be made relevant to e-Retailers in South Africa is needed coupled with qualitative content analysis to analyze data on cybersecurity. Several data collection methods using purposive sampling are highlighted (but not presented in this paper) including: (i) direct and in-depth interviews with retail company managers and e-Retail employees - directly linked to the use and security of critical infrastructure such as technology. (ii) document analysis on cybersecurity policy frameworks currently in use as well as other relevant government documents on e-Retail in South Africa.