Security and Trust as Key Drivers of Sustainable Development in the Digital Economy

Security and trust represent key prerequisites for the sustainable development of the digital economy, as they directly influence the adoption of digital services, innovation capacity, investment climate, and the long-term competitiveness of organizations and national economies. In the context of accelerated digital transformation, data are becoming a strategic resource, while platform-based business models, electronic commerce, fintech services, and digital entrepreneurship increasingly rely on robust mechanisms for protecting privacy, integrity, and information availability. At the same time, the growing incidence of cyber risks and increasingly stringent regulatory requirements mean that security can no longer be viewed solely as a technical function, but rather as a strategic and managerial factor shaping user trust and the sustainability of digital ecosystems. The aim of this paper is to examine the interdependence between security, trust, and sustainability in the digital economy through a synthesis of relevant scientific literature and empirical research, as well as to highlight their implications for the long-term adoption of digital innovations. The empirical study was conducted on a sample of 98 respondents in the Republic of Serbia, using a structured questionnaire and applying descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The research findings indicate that respondents largely perceive security as a fundamental prerequisite for the use of digital services and that perceived security has a significant impact on the level of trust in digital systems. The existence of conditional trust was identified, whereby users accept digital services despite reservations regarding the transparency of data processing. The results also confirm that security and trust are key factors for the long-term sustainability of digital business models. This paper contributes to the theoretical understanding of security and trust as interdependent determinants of the sustainable development of the digital economy and provides practical guidelines for organizations and policymakers regarding strategic cybersecurity management and trust-building in the digital environment.