Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
07 July 2024 | 14:24 CAT

(Photo/Jouburg (etc)

South Africa has been on high alert recently due to increased cyberattacks against crucial institutions before the elections. Breaches at various government agencies and organizations like the GPAA, CIPC, and IEC have jeopardized sensitive data, underlining the critical importance of improving cybersecurity.

Following the recent cybersecurity breach at the South African Companies and Intellectual Property Commission, many businesses are now exposed. Personal data was illegally accessed and revealed. A statement from the agency mentioned that the CIPC is not the sole organization impacted by the breach. Cyber-attacks in South Africa have notably risen, indicating targeted attacks on the country.

Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) believe they are too minor to be targeted by cybercriminals, but according to Accenture’s Cost of Cybercrime Study, 43% of them are hit by cyberattacks every year.

Only 19% of South African businesses are equipped to protect themselves from cybersecurity risks. Small businesses’ susceptibility to attacks is not unexpected, as they tend to use lower-grade security software and are less concerned about the risks, according to Reabetswe Motsamai, Marketing and Communications Manager at MakwaIT Technologies.

The Cisco Cybersecurity Readiness Index indicates that 78% of South African businesses plan to increase their cybersecurity budget by at least 10% in the next year. However, given the potential financial losses from cybercrime, this may not be sufficient. The total losses from a cyberattack, including data damage, theft of money, loss of productivity, intellectual property theft, personal and financial data theft, fraud, forensic investigation, restoration and deletion of hacked data and systems, and damage to reputation, could range from US$1m to US$9m, equivalent to R19m to R171m. This stark reality is why 60% of small businesses that suffer a major cyberattack or breach cease operations within six months of the incident.

She cautions that cyberattacks are expected to increase, and cybercriminals will target those who have not implemented sufficient precautions. She advises that small and medium-sized enterprises should invest in the appropriate tools ahead of time to prevent incidents rather than waiting to react after an incident has already happened when it’s already too late.

You can listen to the full interview on Sabahul Muslim with Moulanan Ibrahim Daya, Communications Manager at MakwaIT Technologies, here.