Rapid advancements in cyberspace pose grave risks, according to IPT's Dillon Gray, who issues a caution to businesses in Cape Town.
In the bustling city of Cape Town, South Africa, a surge in cyberattacks, particularly ransomware-as-a-service and phishing scams, has become a significant concern for businesses. Cape Town ranks high among incident concentrations of cyberattacks, making it a prime target for cybercriminals. With growing digitization and regulatory pressure, the need for robust cybersecurity measures has never been more critical.
South Africa, including Cape Town, is among the world's most targeted countries for cyberattacks. To counter this escalating threat, the South African government has elevated cybersecurity to a national counter-intelligence priority. The government's strategy includes developing strong counter-intelligence capabilities, establishing a national cyber command or coordination centre, and enhancing inter-agency coordination to counter cyber espionage and political disruption.
In response to this heightened threat landscape, local managed services provider IPT is earning consistent 10-out-of-10 client ratings for its cybersecurity efforts. IPT's mission in Cape Town is to help local businesses stay ahead of threats, stay compliant, and stay operational. The company's cybersecurity model is proactive, benefiting SMEs to mid-market enterprises in the city.
At the heart of IPT's approach is a layered defence system that includes endpoint protection, network and cloud security, identity and access controls, email threat defence, data loss prevention, and strategic advisory on risk, compliance, and cyber resilience. The company's Security Operations Centre (SOC) provides 24/7 threat detection and rapid incident response to clients in Cape Town.
Dillon Gray, COO at IPT, stated that Cape Town has become a key target in the global cybercrime network. Recognizing this, IPT is committed to helping businesses in the city navigate the complex and ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape.
To remain resilient, Cape Town’s cybersecurity ecosystem relies on public-private partnerships to improve access to global threat intelligence and adopt best practices proven elsewhere. These collaborations help counter sophisticated ransomware gangs and phishing campaigns by sharing timely insights and mitigation strategies.
Organizations and critical infrastructure operators are also recommended to maintain clear visibility over their networks and digital assets. This includes closely tracking and logging all devices, software, and user accesses, particularly with the growing use of smart connected devices and IoT, which broaden the attack surface. Ensuring comprehensive logging of system changes and monitoring for anomalous behaviour to detect breaches early is also crucial.
Due to the sophistication of ransomware and phishing attacks, implementing a well-defined cyber incident response plan covering phases from preparation and detection through to recovery is essential. This plan must enable rapid response and minimize damage from incidents.
With growing global and local regulatory pressure, organizations must ensure compliance with South African and international data protection laws. Conducting regular security audits and risk assessments to align with regulatory requirements is essential. Enhancing user awareness to combat phishing, which remains a primary vector for ransomware and data breaches, is also crucial.
In 2024, reported cyberattacks against South African businesses surged by over 22%. With the average cost of a data breach in South Africa reaching R49 million in the same year, the need for robust cybersecurity measures has never been more urgent.
By adopting a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that integrates counter-intelligence, invests in skills, maintains network visibility, establishes strong incident response, and fosters public-private collaboration, Cape Town's businesses can stay ahead of the threats and protect their digital assets effectively.
- Recognizing Cape Town as a key target in the global cybercrime network, IPT is committed to helping local businesses navigate the complex and ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape.
- To remain resilient, Cape Town’s cybersecurity ecosystem relies on public-private partnerships to improve access to global threat intelligence and adopt best practices proven elsewhere.
- With the growing use of smart connected devices and IoT, it's essential for businesses to closely track and log all devices, software, and user accesses to ensure comprehensive logging of system changes and monitoring for anomalous behavior to detect breaches early.
- To counter sophisticated ransomware gangs and phishing campaigns, collaborations among organizations and critical infrastructure operators help by sharing timely insights and mitigation strategies.
- In 2024, reported cyberattacks against South African businesses surged by over 22%, highlighting the need for businesses in Cape Town to adopt a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that integrates counter-intelligence, invests in skills, maintains network visibility, establishes strong incident response, and fosters public-private collaboration to protect digital assets effectively.
