Classification of key human factors in the area of information resources security management in small enterprises in Poland

Abstract

This paper attempts to classify major errors affecting the security of information resources made by employees. Human factors that can be a direct cause of these errors were enumerated. The empirical part presents surveys conducted among small businesses in 2019 and 2022 related to the human factors discussed in the theoretical part. The study compared the results obtained before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. A discussion related to the factors and the results was presented.The main aim of the present research, conducted twice on a group of 287 small businesses in Poland, was to show changes in attitudes toward the security of intangible resources and how the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the way of thinking of people responsible for information security in terms of behavioral security.