Cloud-Based Cybersecurity: Future-Proofing African Business
Traditional cybersecurity systems, once recognized as the cornerstone of commercial infrastructure, are putting African companies at risk of leaking data breaches and cyber attacks, which may end up costing more. Due to the technology being outdated and lack of modern security features and integration challenges, these local solutions have been identified as the main threat to the enterprise – a problem that only gets worse as the hardware ages. In response, cybersecurity experts advise businesses to switch to cloud-based solutions that provide continuous automatic updates to the latest protections.
“Africa’s rapidly expanding economy makes it a target for cybercriminals seeking to capitalize on the weaknesses of local businesses’ digital infrastructure. Cyber threats are also evolving and adapting faster than ever before – meaning businesses need to be able to upgrade their cybersecurity in real time to ensure their data and financial situation are protected by the latest threats.
As technology advances, support for older systems, including patches and updates, has been reduced. This means that traditional systems may not be able to adapt to modern technologies and new security best practices, including multi-factor authentication and encryption. As a result, vulnerabilities in old software and hardware are still unresolved, leaving gaps in the defense framework and making them the primary targets of cyber attacks. This can also lead to non-compliance, resulting in legal issues and fines.
“If a data breach occurs, it will affect operational continuity and damage brand reputation far exceed the downtime required to upgrade its systems. In the long run, realizing that outdated solutions can cost more, businesses are switching to cloud-based solutions,” Anscombe said.
Cloud-based cybersecurity systems host digital defenses outside of enterprise internal networks, providing a “protective layer” that prevents threats to critical infrastructure. From the nature of hosting on the managed cloud, these digital solutions offer greater cost flexibility and opportunities to scale (up or down), both of which are the main considerations when launching an ecosystem in Africa in thriving in a thriving world compared to legacy systems that incorporate hardware.
These solutions also leverage the latest technologies – for example, leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to continuously monitor digital infrastructure. This means they can detect and deal with cyber threats, including zero-day attacks (previously unknown vulnerabilities), much earlier than traditional methods. Cloud-based solutions also learn and share information about emerging threats detected in other regions, integrate information in real time and adjust detection models to always be prepared.
Another element of the flexibility that cloud-based solutions offer is that there are more options. “Because cloud-based operations can be deployed and repaired from anywhere, businesses can go beyond their immediate physical boundaries when it comes to choosing providers. This means being able to choose providers based on best fit rather than the closest office,” Anscombe said.
Data company Xalam Analytics says demand for African cloud computing services has increased by 25% to 30% per year. This is based on the understanding that cloud-based solutions enable African businesses to compete globally without the financial pressure to invest and continue to maintain expensive IT infrastructure. Applying the same genre of thinking to cybersecurity is the first step in building resilient, digital security services in the evolving era of cybercrime.
Distributed by Apo Group on behalf of ESET.
Distributed by Be A be Antegnated Communications:
Wande Sistanjana
wande@be-cause.co.za
021 447 1082
065 814 5667
represent
ESET East Africa
About eset:
ESET provides cutting-edge digital security to prevent attacks from happening. By combining the power of AI and human expertise, ESET remains ahead of known and emerging cyber crisis – ensuring business, critical infrastructure and individuals. Whether it’s endpoint, cloud or mobile protection, their AI-on-premises, cloud-leading solutions and services are still very effective and easy to use. ESET technology includes reliable detection and response, ultra-security encryption and multi-factor authentication. With 24/7 real-time defense and strong local support, we ensure users are safe and enterprises run without interruption. For more information, please visit www.eset.com/afr.
