It’s safe to say that an AI wave has swept - and is still sweeping - through the tech world. These days, it’s hardly a question of where AI can fit, but how it can be applied to maximise effectiveness and efficiency. Data handling and management has become integral to running a business these days, and with increasing concerns over the safety of sensitive company and customer data, how can we step up our approach to Cybersecurity? The answer is a cybersecurity expert, armed with (of course) the right AI tools.
Why should African Businesses Care about Cybersecurity?
First, data is everything. It has always been, but we’ve just started to fully recognise how valuable it is. As with any other valuable, it would be foolish not to invest in securing your online data.
Everyone should take measures to guard against the potential loss of their data, or even the potential theft of it. Either of those things can have varying degrees of dire consequences, depending on the nature and sensitivity of the data. Investing in cybersecurity saves you a lot of trouble down the road.
However, things do not look promising for the African business ecosystem. For context, here are a few numbers to munch on from the Club of Information Security Experts in Africa (CESIA), a body with 170 members from 18 African countries.
In 2021, 55% of companies in Africa believed that they were incapable of withstanding a large-scale cyberattack.
In 2022, the number of companies in Africa that believed they were incapable of withstanding a large-scale cyberattack went down, but only to 52%. This second survey was conducted among various African companies from December 1, 2021, to January 31, 2022.
85% of African companies in 2022 do not have a cyber-resilience program to respond to any cyberattacks.
While 80% of African companies believe that their employees are aware of cyber risks, only 20% think their employees comply with recommended digital security measures.
How can African Businesses Prepare for Cybersecurity Threats?
The first thing for African businesses to consider is hiring a cyber security professional. It is important to have someone who knows enough to predict what threats the business is susceptible to and how to best tackle them. A cybersecurity professional will also guide the business on the next step to take, which is investing in an AI-powered cybersecurity tool.
There are three ways AI tools can be used to boost cybersecurity measures:
Automating vulnerability detection: AI tools can be used to scan codes and examine applications to locate any weak spots and potential vulnerabilities.
Predicting attacks: AI tools can examine data on previous attacks and study attack signatures and characteristics to help recognise threats.
Automating incident response: Responses to cyber incidents can be planned and automated by allowing AI to study event data, so it can categorise based on severity and take necessary action.
What AI Tools can be used to Enhance Cybersecurity?
As with most other things, there’s a variety of AI tools to choose from when trying to enhance cybersecurity. Here are a few to check out:
Darktrace utilises machine learning and AI algorithms to identify cybersecurity threats in real time. It serves as a digital immune system for businesses.
Vectra AI provides AI-powered solutions to identify and respond to cybersecurity issues using a network detection and response (NDR) approach.
SentinelOne provides AI-powered endpoint security solutions particularly for advanced threats. The platform hunts down cybersecurity threats and tackles them before they arise.
Cybereason provides AI-powered solutions that identify, investigate, and respond to cybersecurity threats in real time. The platform continuously monitors and identifies threats, helping businesses stay ahead of the curve.
Fortinet FortiAI provides network security appliances and services that utilise machine learning and deep neural networks to support higher and more efficient threat detection.
Stay safe out there and keep your data safe too.
