Africa is seeing an unprecedented growth in digital technologies. And while the continent’s rapid digitalisation is a welcome catalyst for innovation, Interpol found that cybercrime now accounts for over 30 percent of all reported crimes in West and East Africa, and that two-thirds of African countries classify cyber-related incidents as medium to high priority threats.
Most countries on the continent lack a comprehensive national cybersecurity strategy, which hampers effective defence and enforcement measures.
Given the growing risk landscape and the lag in policy adoption, the role of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence has become increasingly pivotal in shaping both the threats and defences within Africa's digital ecosystem.
AI is playing a transformative role in cybersecurity defence strategies, enabling defenders to synthesise vast data sets, detect novel threats and respond more rapidly than ever before.
However, cybercriminals are also harnessing the power of AI, trialling emerging tactics, such as fake digital IDs, across Africa’s evolving attack surface, because of perceived and real inherent weaknesses in the continent’s cyber defences.
Africa is increasingly being targeted by identity-based and AI-driven threats – and AI has significantly reduced the time attackers need for reconnaissance. AI-generated content is flooding digital spaces, overwhelming detection systems and enabling deepfake-enabled fraud, voice cloning, and the creation of synthetic identities at scale.
Africa has a unique opportunity to lead in combating new threats, helping to shape the future of cyber defence. African SMEs are at the frontline of cyberattacks. Small and medium businesses make up nearly 90 percent of businesses in Africa, driving employment, economic growth and, in many instances, innovation.
As these businesses digitise, adopting cloud services, mobile platforms and e-commerce, they are both targets and defenders in the cybersecurity arena.
Cybersecurity must be embedded into the fabric of organisational strategy and addressed regularly as part of risk management. Culture and readiness are key factors – human defences, no matter how good they are, are inadequate alone without the right technology to support them. Even the most vigilant person can fall for a ploy or tactic if it is good enough.
Africa’s SMEs are no longer passive recipients of cybersecurity solutions; they are active architects of a safer digital future.
Operating in resource-constrained environments encourages SMEs to develop creative, cost-effective cybersecurity solutions such as mobile-first security tools tailored to local usage patterns, community-based intelligence sharing and partnerships with regional cybersecurity hubs and incubators.
A breach in one SME can ripple across supply chains or financial networks, and even government services. However, the converse is equally true: a well-defended SME sector that is responsive to identifying new tactics strengthens the entire digital infrastructure.
SMEs should approach cybersecurity as a top priority, on a par with any financial or legal issue. While small business owners might tend to deflect or delay introducing cybersecurity measures due to concerns about cost, or a lack of resources or understanding, they should regard building in ground up cyber defences as a vital part of protecting their investment.
Attackers are simply looking for the weakest path into the business, and a siloed approach opens up areas for exploitation in most defences. Cloud-based security options are becoming increasingly affordable for small businesses, while endpoint protection and multifactor authentication can secure devices and accounts.
The writer is the Microsoft Chief Security Advisor, Africa.
