Africa has experienced a significant surge in internet usage, with over 500 million users recorded. With the evolving digital landscape, the region faces a growing array of cybersecurity challenges. In 2023, ransomware attacks in Africa increased by 50%, with the financial and healthcare industries being the most targeted. Phishing attempts also soared. African industries faced significant losses due to cyber incidents, with the banking sector alone incurring an estimated $1 billion in damages from cyberattacks in the past year. While AI presents substantial opportunities for enhancing cybersecurity capabilities, it also poses formidable challenges. Cybercriminals’ exploitation of AI technologies exacerbates existing vulnerabilities and underscores the need for comprehensive cybersecurity strategies.

Governments across Africa are taking proactive steps to enhance cybersecurity. Nigeria introduced the Nigeria Data Protection Act, while Kenya made strides with the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act. Future regulatory initiatives include the African Union’s efforts to develop a continent-wide cybersecurity framework to harmonize regulations and improve cross-border collaboration.

Join the Cybersecurity Summit: Africa summit to explore these trends. The summit will bring together industry visionaries and thought leaders who will delve into topics including third-party security, the rise in social engineering attacks, cloud defense strategies, and cross-border cybersecurity cooperation, among others.