INDUSTRY UNLOCKED ransomware attack against Transnet in 2021 resulting in severe disruptions of operations at South African ports .”
The blatant vulnerabilities within South Africa ’ s public sector organisations , a lack of budget , adequate resources and skills shortage coupled with the fact that disruptions in this sector can have significant impact not just on the economy but to the society at large makes this a highly attractive target .
The South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research ( CSIR ) expects an increase in cyberattacks on government departments and critical infrastructure , impacting private sector organisations , societies and countries ’ economies alike .
The majority of African organisations are embracing emerging technologies and embedding it into their day-to-day operations . At the same time , not enough is being done yet to regulate the use thereof or educate users on risks such as disinformation , security and privacy , ethical concerns such as bias , inaccuracies and impact on critical thinking .
These are challenges that need to be addressed by a combination of regulation , guidelines and awareness training . Special attention should be given to threats posed to society through malicious use of new technologies such as deepfakes , especially when used for political manipulation . Major elections in South Africa and other areas of the continent in 2024 will drive the need for education campaigns . More public and private partnerships are required to assist our public sector organisations to build capacity , address the skills shortage and become more resilient in this ever-growing digital world . x
Anna Collard , Evangelist , KnowBe4 Africa
www . intelligentcxo . com
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