Tag: BusinessContinuity

Backup, disaster recovery, and operational resilience are often used interchangeably in boardroom conversations. However, they are three distinct disciplines. Each carries its own risk if organisations leave it unaddressed. Organisations that conflate the three are frequently the ones caught out when ransomware strikes.

Safeguarding your family business for the next generation goes beyond just having a will - particularly when the family is dependent on income from the business. While the United Nations estimates that family-owned or managed businesses generate about two-thirds of global GDP and 60% of jobs, a successful business means far more than an income-producing asset for many South African families.

In many South African mid-market businesses, the IT team is now expected to operate with the discipline of an enterprise technology function. However, it must do so without the depth of resources that larger organisations can bring to bear. That leaves a small team moving between Microsoft 365 licensing, cloud workloads, user support, backup checks, endpoint protection, email security, connectivity issues, vendor escalations, procurement, compliance requests, and the first questions around AI governance.

In June, Meta experienced a global outage that disrupted Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp services for users worldwide. The outage left many businesses temporarily unable to connect with customers through some of their most important digital channels. While the disruption was temporary, it highlighted the risks associated with relying too heavily on a single digital platform.

The local business news cycle has taken a dark and repetitive turn. Week after week, headlines are dominated by a relentless spike in organisations falling victim to sophisticated hacks, data breaches, and crippling ransomware attacks. From local municipalities to major political parties like the ANC, no sector seems immune.

South African businesses have evolved alongside the reality of the country’s physical infrastructure challenges. Organisations instinctively build redundancies for power. These include solar installations, battery backup solutions, UPS systems and generators. When the grid fails, the failover system kicks in. Similarly, most businesses have multiple connectivity failovers because they understand operational disruption intimately.

As winter approaches, many businesses face a familiar challenge. Colds, flu and other respiratory infections increase among employees during this period. These illnesses spread easily in shared indoor spaces. As a result, businesses experience more sick days, disrupted operations and reduced productivity. This situation also places additional strain on already stretched teams. This absenteeism costs South African businesses billions annually.

As more businesses move their operations to the cloud, securing these environments has become a strategic imperative. Fortinet’s 2025 report shows that 35% of IT security budgets are now dedicated to cloud protection. Meanwhile, Gartner notes that the cloud security market expanded by 24% last year alone.

The first quarter of the year is often one of the most financially challenging periods for South African businesses. Companies absorb year-end expenses during this time. They also navigate delayed customer payments and face slower trading conditions. As a result, many companies enter the new year under significant cash-flow pressure.

The 2026 National Budget Speech was delivered by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on 25 February. He delivered the 2026 budget speech against a backdrop of complex fiscal trade-offs. South Africa continues to face high debt-servicing costs. As a result, the government’s capacity to act as the primary buffer against economic shocks has become more constrained. Therefore, the 2026 budget speech highlights the growing importance of shared responsibility across the broader economy.