SECURE ADOPTION OF CLOUD-BASED ERP SYSTEMS IN SAUDI ENTERPRISES: A GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK FOR VISION 2030

Cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) is being seen more and more as an infrastructure for integrated, data-driven management rather than merely as a simple way of hosting on-premise ERP systems. For businesses in Saudi Arabia, the strategic advantages are obvious: cloud delivery can speed up the process of implementation, provide extended access to people working in different locations, enable scalable analytics, and lessen the need for locally maintained infrastructure. At the same time, taking on cloud solutions does mean transferring key areas of control to external platforms and raises a number of governance issues relating to data stewardship, identity management, integration, service continuity, dependence on the vendor, auditability, and the organisation's readiness. This review draws on peer-reviewed evidence published between 2020 and 2025 and presents a governance framework for the secure adoption of cloud ERP in Saudi enterprises in line with Vision 2030. Thirty studies with verified DOIs were analysed using structured thematic coding focusing on cloud ERP adoption, digital transformation, ERP implementation in Saudi Arabia and similar environments, cloud security, and enterprise resilience.