I have narrowed down my research questions and built a foundation for the research methodology.
My research questions (this is prior to culling) are:
1. What are the main challenges that small and medium-sized organizations face in developing and implementing effective cyber security policies?
2. What are the potential benefits and limitations of using AI techniques for enhancing cyber security policies and systems in SMEs?
3. To what extent can AI techniques be used to automate the creation and implementation of cyber security policies in SMEs?
4. How accurate and reliable are AI techniques in identifying and mitigating cyber security risks in SMEs compared to other traditional methods?
5. How can SMEs overcome the cost and expertise barriers in adopting AI techniques for improving their cyber security posture, and what are the best practices for integrating AI with existing security frameworks?
6. What are the potential risks and limitations of using AI techniques in cyber security policy creation and implementation, and how can these risks be mitigated or avoided?
7. What are the key success factors for SMEs in leveraging AI techniques to improve their cyber security posture, and how can these factors be measured and evaluated?
8. What are the key areas of future research in the application of AI techniques to cyber security for SMEs, and how can these be addressed to further improve the effectiveness and scalability of AI-based solutions?
I will undertake the research through:
1. Conduct a literature review: This involves reviewing existing literature on cyber security, AI, and SMEs to gain insights into the research questions and identify any knowledge gaps.
2. Develop a research framework: This involves developing a framework for the research, including the research design, methods, data collection and analysis techniques to be used.
3. Identify data sources: This involves identifying relevant data sources, such as security policies and systems data, as well as potential interviewees or focus groups for data gathering.
4. Collect and analyse data: This involves collecting data through methods such as interviews, surveys, or experiments, and analysing the data using statistical or qualitative analysis techniques to draw insights and conclusions.
5. Evaluate ethical considerations: This involves identifying any ethical considerations related to the research, such as data privacy or confidentiality, and developing strategies to mitigate these risks.
6. Draw conclusions and make recommendations: This involves drawing conclusions based on the research findings and making recommendations for improving cyber security policy and systems in SMEs using AI techniques.
7. Validate findings: This involves validating the research findings through peer review, expert feedback, or by testing the conclusions with SMEs in the industry.