A third of African organisations that took part in the first study conducted by KPMG on cybersecurity, particularly in Angola and Mozambique, said they had been the target of a cyberattack in the last 12 months, the consulting firm said on Monday, 27 March.
The financial, energy and natural resources, industry and information and communications technology (ICT) sectors are the most affected by cyber threats, with one of the main consequences being the compromise of corporate email, according to the first edition of the “Africa Cyber Security Outlook.
The analysis was conducted in 2022 among 300 heads of companies on the African continent, namely Angola, Mozambique, South Africa, Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
The study, which the company has already presented in Angola and whose main conclusions were published in a statement, included representatives from various business sectors, both large (44 percent) and small and medium-sized companies (56 percent) and showed that, in the face of threats, organisations are placing increasing importance on applying protection measures.
About 75% of respondents indicated that they have cybersecurity strategies regularly updated or adapted to the threats identified, this being the correct posture, as noted by Carlos Borges, head of KPMG Angola.
“Proactivity in identifying threats and defence mechanisms is fundamental,” said Carlos Borges, stressing that “the proliferation of digital services has expanded the surface of cyber attacks and increased the urgency of adopting protection measures,” and it is “fundamental that companies integrate, for example, cyber risk in their business strategies.
A challenge arises in this chapter, as about two out of three companies experience difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified cybersecurity professionals,” according to the study.
Despite this challenge, companies recognise the importance of this theme, with 55% of respondents stating that their organisations plan to recruit soon, for the area of cybersecurity. In addition, they have invested in their cybersecurity strategy, which, according to this study, could mean a 50% reduction in the probability of becoming a victim of a major incident.
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