Somewhere in a modest office in Lagos, a retail entrepreneur received an alert that her entire online inventory had vanished overnight. Not from theft in the physical sense, but from a cyberattack that erased her digital presence. For her, and for countless others across Africa and the world, cybersecurity isn’t just a technical issue; it’s an existential threat to business continuity.
As we increasingly plug our enterprises into the global digital economy, the stakes are increasingly higher. Cyberattacks aren’t a question of “if” but “when”. From data breaches and ransomware to phishing and insider threats, today’s organisations must embrace more than just firewalls and antivirus software. They must build cyber resilience and embrace a holistic culture of security embedded into the DNA of the business.
“When leaders model secure behaviour and allocate appropriate resources, it sends a powerful message.”
Cyber resilience is not merely about preventing attacks. It’s about preparing for them, detecting them early, responding swiftly, and recovering fully. It’s a mindset shift: from reactive defence to proactive resilience.
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Africa, with its growing digital infrastructure and youthful, mobile-first population, is particularly vulnerable. A recent Interpol report indicated that financial institutions, telecoms, and SMEs across the continent are increasingly being targeted. Yet, cybersecurity is often seen as an afterthought or an IT department problem. It must be a boardroom conversation.
Building a culture of security: Key pillars
1. Leadership by example
Cybersecurity begins at the top. Boards and executives must treat it as a strategic priority, not just a technical checklist. When leaders model secure behaviour and allocate appropriate resources, it sends a powerful message.
2. Human-centric approach
Most breaches result from human error (weak passwords, clicking suspicious links, ignoring software updates). Training staff to recognise threats and cultivating a security-first mindset is critical. Consider ongoing awareness campaigns, phishing simulations, and role-based training.
3. Integrated security strategies
Too often, businesses patch together disconnected tools. Instead, integrate cybersecurity into business continuity, supply chain management, and data governance strategies. Embrace AI-driven security tools that can detect anomalies in real time and automate responses.
4. Third-party risk management
Vendors, contractors, and cloud service providers can be the weakest links. Conduct regular security audits and ensure that partners adhere to your cybersecurity standards. Resilience is only as strong as its most vulnerable connection.
5. Incident response readiness
Do you have a playbook if your business suffers a breach tomorrow? Incident response plans must be rehearsed, not just written. Assign roles, simulate scenarios, and ensure legal, communication, and technical teams are aligned.
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Africa has a unique opportunity. Our economies are still in the formative stages of digital transformation, which means we can bake security into our systems early. Governments must implement comprehensive national cybersecurity strategies. Startups must embed privacy by design. Large enterprises should champion industry-wide standards and invest in local talent.
Organisations like CyberSafe Foundation, led by Confidence Staveley, are already doing important work, from grassroots education to digital protection for women and children. But we need scale, collaboration, and sustained investment.
Cyber resilience is like fitness. You don’t become resilient by hitting the gym once after a crisis. It’s built through discipline, consistency, and culture. And just like in life, in tech too, resilience trumps resistance.
For African businesses, building this culture isn’t optional; it’s existential. As we pursue digital equity, inclusion, and innovation, let’s ensure security is not left behind. After all, what use is a connected world if it isn’t a safe one?
Let’s raise the bar. Let’s build bold, secure, and resilient businesses for tomorrow.
Emmanuel Okwudili Asika is a seasoned business leader, digital equity advocate, and industry strategist with over two decades of experience in ICT and IT, spanning executive roles at Globacom Ltd and HP Inc. Asika has a BA in English (Lagos State University) and an MBA from Warwick Business School, with a Harvard Business School executive stint in ‘Building Businesses in Emerging Markets’.
