In a recent report titled “The Evolving Cyber Security Landscape in Africa,” Liquid Intelligent Technologies (Liquid C2) highlights five key trends that are shaping the region’s approach to cyber security.
The report sheds light on the current state of cyber threats, the changing perception of security, regulatory pressures, the importance of human error prevention, and the adoption of managed security services (MSS).
These trends include:
𝐀 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞:
The report reveals that despite an understanding that cyber threats have become more sophisticated and capable, many companies in Africa believe they have done enough to protect themselves.
This complacency has created a concerning stance toward cyber security, where companies fail to recognize the severity of the threat and the potential impact on their operations and reputation.
However, the perception of security has gradually transformed.
𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲:
Previously seen as an Information and Technology (IT) concern and grudgingly allocated a budget, cyber security is now recognized as a critical issue by organizations in Africa.
The report emphasizes that companies now comprehend the severity of the threat and acknowledge the need to allocate sufficient resources to protect their digital assets.
𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬:
Regulatory expectations and global standards are driving the need for enhanced cybersecurity protocols.
Companies are now compelled to comply with these requirements, which results in increased cybersecurity awareness throughout organizations.
Companies must align their security protocols and parameters with local and global expectations to mitigate risks and ensure regulatory compliance.
𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲:
Human error continues to be a significant contributing factor to security breaches.
The report emphasizes that leaders must prioritize embedding security training and awareness within their organizations. By providing comprehensive training and promoting a culture of cyber security, companies can empower their employees to recognize and prevent potential threats, reducing the risk of successful cyber attacks.
A notable challenge faced by African companies is the shortage of skilled security personnel. To bridge this gap, organizations are shifting from in-house security teams to third-party security service providers.
Managed security services (MSS) are gaining popularity as they offer access to extensive expertise and skilled security talent. This approach allows companies to address their security needs effectively, bypassing the challenges associated with hiring and retaining specialized personnel.
𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐫:
The report also highlights that investing in a robust and capable security posture is not merely an expense but an enabler for business growth. A strong security foundation enables companies to expand their digital presence, explore new markets and opportunities, and build customer relationships with confidence.
By investing in cyber security, organizations can safeguard their assets, establish trust with customers, and unlock their full potential in the digital age.
Liquid C2’s report serves as a valuable resource for understanding the evolving cybersecurity landscape in Africa. It emphasizes the need for heightened awareness, proactive measures, and the adoption of managed security services to effectively counter the growing threats in the region.
In the report, decision-makers across South Africa, Kenya and Zambia share their cyber security concerns on matters cyber-attacks, hacking and data loss.
“These findings, gleaned from discussions with decision-makers across South Africa, Kenya and Zambia, highlight a landscape fraught with complexity, increasingly challenging threat actors, and a sharp increase in organisational awareness.”
According to the report, the survey results across the different research objectives found critical issues across the board. The most significant of these are: 68% think hacking and unauthorised access are the biggest cyber security concerns for the business and 21% South African organisations perceive that the biggest impact of a cyber security breach is on finance.
“20% Kenyan organisations perceive that the biggest impact of a cyber security breach is reputation. 30% Zambian organisations perceive that the biggest impact of a cyber security breach is towards business disruption,” read part of the report.
Other core issues include: “74% think email attacks, including phishing and spam, are the biggest cyber security threats. 60% think the most concerning business risk is the illegal company or client information access and 76% believe that cyber security threats have increased over the past year.”