WHY CYBERSECURITY CAN’T WAIT
Ransomware isn’t leveling off it’s multiplying. Secureworks’ latest State of the Threat report shows a 30% year-on-year jump in active ransomware gangs during 2024, with 31 new crews entering the field.
These criminals used phishing to get their initial foothold, and Africa now ranks among the top three regions worldwide for malicious scripts and phishing pages blocked signaling that businesses on the continent sit squarely in the crosshairs. Regulators are reacting just as sharply: South Africa’s POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act) amendments that took effect on 17 April 2025 introduce tougher administrative fines and tighter breach-reporting timelines, turning every unchecked vulnerability into a potential line item on your balance sheet.
Put simply, waiting means paying whether in ransom, downtime, or penalties. Investing in proactive security controls today is the shortest path to avoiding far costlier surprises tomorrow.
KEY POINTS
Ransomware threats are rising fast, with a 30% increase in active gangs in 2024. Africa is now a major target, especially through phishing attacks. South Africa’s updated POPIA laws, effective April 2025, introduce stricter penalties and faster breach-reporting requirements. Delaying security measures could result in costly fines, downtime, or ransom payments making proactive cybersecurity more critical than ever.
30%
Increase in active ransomware gangs globally in 2024
94%
Increase in phishing attacks
78%
of South African companies experienced a successful cyberattack in the past year
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