ESET, a leading international cybersecurity firm, has partnered with African businesses to promote the adoption of cloud-based security solutions, warning that outdated legacy systems are leaving companies vulnerable to data breaches and cyberattacks.
The campaign targets African firms, particularly startups, aiming to enhance digital protection amid a rapidly growing economy that has attracted cybercriminals exploiting weak infrastructure.
Companies are encouraged to transition from on-premises systems to scalable, cost-effective cloud alternatives that offer real-time updates and advanced threat detection.
“Africa’s rapidly expanding economy has made it a target for cybercriminals looking to exploit weak points in the digital infrastructure of local businesses. Cyber threats are also evolving and adapting faster than ever – which means that businesses need to be able to upgrade their cybersecurity in real-time, to ensure their data and finances remain protected against the latest threats,” said Tony Anscombe, Chief Security Evangelist at ESET.
Legacy systems, hampered by aging hardware and lacking modern features like multi-factor authentication, often fail to receive patches, increasing risks of non-compliance and financial penalties.
Cloud-based systems provide a protective layer outside internal networks, leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to detect emerging threats, including zero-day attacks, faster than traditional methods.
“If a data breach occurs, it will impact operational continuity and damage the brand’s reputation far more than the downtime needed to upgrade their systems. Recognizing that outdated solutions could cost them more in the long run, businesses are switching over to cloud-based solutions,” Anscombe noted.
These solutions also adapt globally shared threat data, ensuring continuous improvement. With cloud computing demand in Africa rising 25-30% annually, per Xalam Analytics, businesses gain flexibility to choose providers based on fit rather than proximity.
“Since cloud-based operations can be deployed and serviced from anywhere, businesses can look beyond their immediate physical borders when it comes to choosing a provider.
This means being able to select a provider based on best-fit, instead of closest-to-the-office,” Anscombe added. ESET urges companies to assess their systems and explore cloud options via its regional support network.
