By The world is migrating to online platforms, changing the way we do things; however, with this comes the threat of cybercrimes that can disrupt the economy and individual lives.
The digital economy in South Africa is a rapidly growing sector with a high demand. Inherent to the growth is cybersecurity; hackers and sophisticated cybercriminals are increasingly targeting vulnerable sites or businesses.
During her budget speech, the Minister in the Presidency Ms Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the government after consultations it is prioritising cybersecurity as South Africa, like other countries across the globe is increasingly moving online.
Ntshavheni said as the country migrates to digital platforms, every aspect of our lives relies on digital systems, which are increasingly vulnerable to malicious actors. Consequently, nations globally have made cybersecurity as a top priority, and South Africa is no different. As South Africa’s digital economy rapidly transforms and expands, it increases vulnerabilities and provides more entry points for increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals, hackers, and state-sponsored actors.
“During our budget vote debate last year, we communicated that we are finalising consultations on the draft National Cybersecurity Strategy. Considering the feedback from the consultative sessions and the growing number of cyberattacks affecting multiple sectors and causing significant disruptions, it is imperative to develop a comprehensive strategy that transcends traditional defensive measures and focuses on resilience.
To achieve digital resilience, we are prioritising cyber resilience, the ability to anticipate, withstand, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity incidents. A significant amount of work has already been completed, and the revised National Cybersecurity Strategy should be adopted in the next quarter,” said Ntshavheni.
