## 3 Results
### Results of the Quantitative Study
#### 3.1.2 Results of Research Questions  
To analyze RQ1, related to the changes in attitudes towards CC adoption and information security posture at SMEs, we separately tested the mean difference of paired questions in 2017 and 2023 as follows. The statistical analysis revealed that the mean difference of paired observations of information security of SMEs between 2017 and 2023 was statistically significant (\(Z=-4.61\), \(p<0.001\)). The result indicates that SMEs' information security level in 2023 (M = 8.06, SD = 2.22) was significantly higher than in 2017 (M = 7.63, SD = 2.57). The effect size was medium (r = \(-\)0.39). The statistical analysis revealed a statistically significant difference of paired observations of reasons for CC adoption (\(Z=-2.74\), \(p<0.05\)). Namely, the number of reasons for CC adoption in 2023 (M = 2.28, SD = 1.85) was statistically significantly lower than in \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c} \hline  & & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**Study 1**} & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**Study 2**} \\ \hline
**Category** & **Description** & **Frequency (n)** & **Percentage (\%)** & **Frequency (n)** & **Percentage (\%)** \\ \hline Total number of & Do not use computers & 0 & 0.00 & 0 & 0.00 \\ computers in the & Up to 5 computers & 9 & 12.68 & 4 & 5.63 \\ company & 5–10 computers & 3 & 4.22 & 4 & 5.63 \\  & 11–20 computers & 10 & 14.08 & 12 & 16.90 \\  & 21–50 computers & 23 & 32.39 & 24 & 33.80 \\  & More than 50 computers & 26 & 36.62 & 27 & 38.03 \\ Applications used in the & Mail & 70 & 98.59 & 71 & 100.00 \\ company & Skype & 30 & 42.25 & 41 & 57.7 \\  & Company’s social & 31 & 43.66 & 46 & 64.79 \\  & networks & & & & \\  & Blogs and microblogs & 9 & 12.68 & 9 & 12.68 \\  & Microsoft Office & 65 & 91.55 & 65 & 91.55 \\  & Enterprise resource & & & & \\  & planning (ERP) & 36 & 50.70 & 36 & 50.70 \\  & Customer relationship & & & & \\  & management (CRM) & & & & \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 4: ICT background of the sample. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c} \hline  & & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**Study 1**} & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**Study 2**} \\ \hline
**Category** & **Description** & **Frequency (n)** & **Percentage (\%)** & **Frequency (n)** & **Percentage (\%)** \\ \hline Company size & Micro (1–9 employees) & 11 & 15.50 & 7 & 9.86 \\  & Small (10–50 employees) & 30 & 42.25 & 33 & 46.48 \\  & Medium-sized (50–250 employees) & 30 & 42.25 & 31 & 43.66 \\ Main activity & Manufacturing and industry & 5 & 7.04 & 5 & 7.04 \\  & Finance services & 9 & 12.67 & 9 & 12.67 \\  & Public sector and health & 12 & 16.90 & 12 & 16.90 \\  & Private sector & 7 & 9.86 & 7 & 9.86 \\  & ICT service & 8 & 11.27 & 8 & 11.27 \\  & Retail & 6 & 8.45 & 6 & 8.45 \\  & Other & 24 & 33.80 & 24 & 33.80 \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 3: Sample characteristics (n = 71). 2017 (M = 2.52, SD = 2.17). The effect size was small (r = \(-\)0.23). Further analysis with the McNemar test was employed to inspect whether there were differences for a single reason for CC adoption; these were statistically significant for ensuring business continuity and rapid system recovery (x\({}^{2}\) = 4.17, \(p\) < 0.05). It indicates that the proportion of those that did not recognize this reason as crucial for introducing CC in SME neither in 2017 nor in 2023 was 57.75%, while there were no SMEs that considered this reason unimportant in 2017 and essential in 2023. Moreover, 8.45% of SMEs admitted this reason as necessary in 2017 but unimportant in 2023. Finally, 33.80% of SMEs identified this factor as having relevance to CC adoption both in 2017 and in 2023. We found no changes in perceived benefits of CC adoption (\(p\) > 0.05). In contrast, we found a statistically significant difference in perceived risks of CC adoption (\(Z\) = \(-\)2.18; \(p\) < 0.05). The result indicates that, on average, SMEs' perceived importance of CC adoption risks in 2023 (M = 36.51, SD = 4.76) was significantly lower than in 2017 (M = 37.23, SD = 7.95). The effect size was small (r = \(-\)0.18).