This article examines mechanisms for ensuring the economic security of enterprises in the strategic management of small and medium-sized businesses, focusing on risks, strategies, and practical approaches. Economic security of enterprises is defined as a state of protection from internal and external threats, ensuring the sustainability and competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises characterized by limited resources. Based on Federal Law No. 390-FZ, the article analyzes the elements of economic security of enterprises, categorizing them into external (interaction with the government, markets, competitors) and internal (optimization of business processes) mechanisms. In strategic management, economic security of enterprises is integrated at the stages of planning (PEST analysis), implementation (adaptation of strategies), and control, helping to reduce vulnerability to risks: internal (financial crises, cyber threats, operational failures) and external (competition, regulations, crises). The author proposes analytical tools, such as SWOT and PEST, for identifying and minimizing risks. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between the economic security of enterprises and the development of digital platforms as a competitive factor, as well as the role of digital enterprises as initiators of transformation, emphasizing the synergy where digitalization strengthens the economic security of enterprises and stimulates innovation. The author emphasizes the need for proactive mechanisms for sustainable growth in the SME sector in an unstable environment, citing theoretical models and practical examples from the Russian economy.