Navigating the Evolving Digital Threat Landscape: A Strategic Priority for Africa’s Business Leaders

In today’s rapidly evolving digital world, cybersecurity threats are becoming more complex and pervasive, keeping business leaders on high alert. Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and IT teams are under immense pressure to stay vigilant against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, often losing sleep over the prospect of a dreaded phone call signalling an attack.

For African businesses, the stakes are higher than ever. According to data from Check Point, the average South African organisation faced over 1,000 cyber-attacks per week in the past six months alone. South Africa is now the most targeted nation in Africa and ranks eighth worldwide for cyber-attacks, according to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). With these staggering numbers, safeguarding digital commerce is paramount for maintaining operational resilience, brand reputation, and customer trust.

Expanding the CISO’s Role: Beyond Internal Security to the Entire Supply Chain

The role of CISOs is no longer confined to safeguarding their own organisation’s perimeter. Today, they must extend their oversight to the entire supply chain, assessing and managing risks associated with third-party vendors who may not have the resources or expertise to maintain adequate cybersecurity measures. This widening scope is essential, as many organisations remain vulnerable due to partners that lack robust security practices. A breach in the supply chain could expose sensitive information and threaten the integrity of interconnected systems.

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are particularly at risk. Research by Sage reveals that nearly half of SMEs (48%) experienced a cybersecurity incident in the past year, with 25% facing multiple attacks. These numbers highlight that no business, regardless of size, is immune to cyber threats. Among South African SMEs, laptop thefts accounted for 28% of incidents, and ransomware affected 9%.

The Cybersecurity Skills Gap: A Persistent Challenge in Africa

The 2024 Cybersecurity Skills Gap Global Research Report by Fortinet paints a complex picture for African businesses striving to secure their digital environments. Alarmingly, 60% of South African companies attribute cybersecurity incidents to inadequate in-house expertise, and 58% point to a general lack of cybersecurity awareness among employees. Despite the urgent need, only 36% of businesses report challenges in attracting skilled talent, with retention difficulties affecting just 28%.

This skills gap creates an urgent need for companies to not only recruit but also invest in ongoing cybersecurity training and awareness programmes. Building a cyber-aware culture is crucial for strengthening defences and mitigating risks.

Key Threats Facing Digital Commerce in Africa

African businesses face a range of security threats that could compromise the digital economy and stifle innovation if not adequately addressed. Below are some of the most prevalent:

1. Phishing: Cybercriminals create fake websites or emails to steal sensitive information from consumers, tricking them into disclosing personal data.
2. Credit Card Fraud: One of the most common threats in e-commerce, fraudulent transactions are challenging to detect and trace.
3. DDoS Attacks: Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks can disrupt operations, causing system outages and productivity losses.
4. SQL Injection: Attackers exploit code vulnerabilities to gain unauthorised access to data by injecting malicious SQL queries.
5. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks: Often targeting network security, these attacks intercept and manipulate communications, posing a serious risk to e-commerce transactions.
6. Supply Chain Attacks: As companies increasingly rely on third-party vendors, they become more susceptible to cyber threats originating from within the supply chain.
7. Malware and Ransomware: From data theft to complete lockdown of systems, malware and ransomware attacks have devastating effects on business continuity.
8. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Attackers inject malicious scripts into websites, compromising both site integrity and user data.
9. Cloud-Based Threats: These include data breaches, leaks, and tampering—challenges that are especially relevant as businesses continue their migration to the cloud.
10. Cloud Access Attacks: Unauthorised account access, credential theft, and privilege escalation are critical vulnerabilities to monitor in cloud environments.

Strengthening Africa’s Cybersecurity: Join the Digital Security Track at Converge Africa

As digital threats continue to evolve, so must our strategies to combat them. Converge Africa’s Digital Security track will bring together industry experts to share the latest insights, best practices, and actionable strategies for fortifying Africa’s digital commerce landscape. This is a unique opportunity for business leaders, CISOs, and IT professionals to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current threat landscape and learn how to bolster their defences against emerging risks.

Don’t miss out on this essential gathering of digital security experts at Converge Africa 2025. Register today to secure your spot and take the first step towards building a resilient digital ecosystem in Africa.