Tag: cybercrime

If you believe cybercrime is something that only happens to businesses and “other people,” now is a good time to reboot your attitude. South Africa currently has the third highest number of cybercrime victims worldwide according to Accenture, with cybercrime costing South Africa R2.2 billion per year.

Usually, as we move from one year to the next, we look at trends for the coming year so that we know what to expect. This is especially pertinent in the IT industry where things evolve at lightning speed. This is not so that we can invest in the latest and greatest for their own sake, rather it is to keep businesses relevant and competitive on their digital journeys, as well as to keep them safe from a cybersecurity perspective.

The use of spreadsheets in accounting and finance departments has vastly improved data analysis and enabled fast and accurate reporting, computing and information storage. Life without them is almost unthinkable. However, danger lurks within and although the use of macros in Excel to automate processes can enhance efficiency, macro malware can put your entire business at risk.

Hybrid IT and hybrid cloud are terms that we are continually confronted with. Still, when asked to explain what this translates to, there is often a pause in the room as people try and ascertain if it's hybridity or multi-cloud, which we are referring to.

Ransomware attacks have dominated the headlines over the last two years and will continue to control the cybersecurity agenda going into 2023. While ransomware gangs continue to be successful in extorting money from businesses, those that do pay demands are financing the ransomware industry and further crime.

The average tenure of a Chief Security Information Officer lasts between one and two years, far less than the six years a Chief Financial Officer or eight years a Chief Executive Officer typically spends at a company. This drastic difference is even more staggering when we add new data from the Ponemon Institute, which claims that around 65 percent of security professionals think about quitting due to burnout.

Is the global economy headed into a recession? South Africa's economy has been flirting with a contracting state for several years. Numerous signs point to more countries landing in the same situation, even lapsing into persistent negative growth.

November marks the start of seasonal spending, with consumers looking for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. While this is an exciting time of year, it is equally critical for customers to be vigilant when shopping to avoid falling victim to fraudsters.

Employees are expected to remember and adhere to numerous policies, including privacy policies. Poster campaigns are rolled out to reinforce positive behaviour and still when we consider data breaches it is often unbelievable how the mistake that resulted in the breach could have possibly occurred.

Cybersecurity education, through the use of anti-phishing training programs, is vital in a world where humans remain the weakest link in the cybersecurity chain. Cybersecurity is a term on every businessperson’s mind, as the legal, financial and reputational implications of a breach are massive.