Almost a quarter of South African businesses have experienced a cyber incident in the past five years, reflecting a significant and growing cyber threat landscape. According to the 2024 Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report, ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), and online scams are the fastest-growing cyber threats on the continent. Additionally, there was a 23% year-on-year increase in weekly cyberattacks per organisation in Africa, the highest globally.
While implementing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy might be considered complex, or cost-prohibitive for many organisations, there are five essential cybersecurity solutions that can significantly strengthen company infrastructure without breaking the bank.
1. The firewall
Firewalls help oversee and regulate data flow, only allowing approved traffic to enter the network and are a critical first line of defence against external threats, malware, and hackers trying to access data and systems. However, the traditional firewall is no longer adequate for many modern businesses. Next-generation network firewalls (NGFWs) are increasingly necessary.
2. Endpoint protection
It may seem like a straightforward step, but ensuring every device that has access to the network is protected is non-negotiable. Endpoint protection secures everything from desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, servers, and other mobile devices. Given how pervasive the Internet of Things (IoT) has become, endpoint protection needs to extend to these devices as well.
At a minimum, every company should implement endpoint protection and a VPN client to secure network communications and protect against basic threats. These measures provide a foundational layer of security, ensuring that data transmission is encrypted and endpoints are protected from common malware and viruses.
3. Email security
Email remains one of the most significant business communication channels, and it is alarming that not more companies view securing this as a priority. According to multiple reports, email is the primary vector for cyberattacks, with 91% of all attacks starting with a phishing email. This makes email security a critical component of any cybersecurity strategy.
Effective email security involves implementing comprehensive email data protection (EDP) solutions that go beyond standard antivirus and firewalls to prevent potential leaks of sensitive data while ensuring compliance with data protection laws. Cloud email providers like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 offer built-in security features like threat protection, spam filtering, and encryption, which when fully enabled and correctly configured provide a significant security boost.
4. Threat Exposure Management
Threat exposure management solutions provide comprehensive tools for businesses to manage and mitigate cyber risks. These often include dark web monitoring, which scans for leaked credentials and sensitive information, alerting businesses to potential breaches before they cause significant damage. Additionally, they offer actionable threat intelligence, enabling proactive measures against emerging threats. Automated incident response capabilities reduce the time to detect and respond to threats, while continuous monitoring and reporting support regulatory compliance.
5. User awareness training
The weakest link in the cybersecurity chain will always be the employees. As threats become more sophisticated and cyberattacks use artificial intelligence to thwart even the most cautious person, companies must conduct regular cybersecurity awareness training sessions.
These should teach proper cybersecurity hygiene, help employees identify potential security risks, and what to do in the event of a breach occurring. Ultimately, this training focuses on reducing the risk of breaches and keeping people aware of new threats to themselves and the network.
Journey of continual improvement
There is no single solution that can protect every potential entry point into the business.
While the focus is always on being completely secure, this is a journey that spans multiple layers that must be integrated successfully and continually improved if a business hopes to safeguard its mission-critical data and infrastructure.
