Cybersecurity practices in South African small and medium enterprises (SMEs) during digital transformation

This dataset underpins the thematic analysis matrix developed for the study titled “Understanding cybersecurity practices in South African SMEs during digital transformation.” The dataset summarises coded interview data collected from fifteen semi-structured interviews with SME owners, managers, IT professionals, and cybersecurity practitioners across multiple sectors in South Africa. The matrix was developed during the qualitative thematic analysis process and documents how recurring patterns, themes, and subthemes were identified across participant responses. The thematic analysis focuses on how SMEs prioritise and implement cybersecurity practices during digital transformation, as well as the organisational and institutional factors influencing cybersecurity capability development. The data supports the interpretive qualitative analysis presented in the dissertation and provides transparency regarding the analytical process used to develop themes relating to leadership commitment, organisational capabilities, regulatory pressures, governance practices, employee behaviour, and cybersecurity implementation in SMEs.