A Secure PHP-Based Cloud Security Framework for Global SME Retail Operations

Abstract

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) form the backbone of global commerce, accounting for over 90% of businesses and contributing significantly to employment and GDP. Yet, they remain disproportionately vulnerable to internal fraud, particularly employee theft, due to limited oversight, fragmented infrastructure, and inadequate digital safeguards. This study presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of a secure, scalable, and cloud-based Point of Sale (POS) system developed using PHP and the Laravel framework. Unlike existing POS platforms that prioritise generic transaction processing and lack embedded fraud prevention, this system Integrates Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), encrypted audit trails, and real-time activity logging directly into its architecture, specifically tailored to enhance operational transparency and mitigate fraud in SME retail environments.

Built with open-source technologies and deployed on cloud infrastructure, the solution addresses limitations of traditional POS systems, such as poor scalability, limited accessibility, and weak security, while remaining cost-effective and adaptable to low-connectivity environments. It introduces formal models for transaction throughput, response time, availability, and breach probability, providing a quantitative framework rarely applied to SME-focused POS solutions. Validated across multiple regions, the system demonstrates cross-cultural resilience, regulatory compliance, offline tolerance, and digital modernisation for SMEs worldwide. Its transition from academic prototype to commercial deployment underscores its practical viability and bridges the gap between scholarly design and real-world application.