As South Africa’s digital economy matures, cybercriminals are taking notice and targeting businesses across the country — with major financial consequences. Earlier this year, South African Airways (SAA) faced a significant cyberattack event that disrupted access to its online platforms. In 2024, the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) was hit with a ransomware attack, which resulted in the loss of 1.2 terabytes of data. These aren’t isolated incidents — they represent a growing pattern of attacks against businesses who are unprepared when it comes to modern cybersecurity challenges.
“South Africa is the most targeted country in Africa when it comes to infostealer and ransomware attacks. Being at the forefront of the continent’s digital transformation and having a relatively strong economy, puts South Africa in the crosshairs for sophisticated cyber-attacks,” says Tony Anscombe, Chief Security Evangelist at global cybersecurity provider ESET.
“Cybersecurity frameworks offer a blueprint for digital safety and data regulation compliance — but as these develop and proliferate in response to emerging cyber threats, choosing the right one is increasingly difficult. Particularly in high-risk sectors like fintech, retail, and healthcare, understanding specific requirements must be a top priority,” Anscombe says.
In 2020, South Africa implemented the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) — a legal framework aimed at protecting individuals’ rights to privacy. While these regulations establish what must be protected, cybersecurity frameworks offer a detailed roadmap for achieving compliance.
“Organisations that view cybersecurity frameworks as enablers of trust and innovation, not merely regulatory hurdles to overcome, will likely see more success. With strategic implementation, these frameworks provide the foundation for secure, sustainable digital transformation across the continent — provided they are interpreted and implemented in a way that makes sense for each business,” says Anscombe.
These frameworks generally fall into two categories — mandatory compliance frameworks that organisations must follow to comply with laws or industry regulations, and voluntary frameworks designed to improve overall security posture. Many businesses struggle to determine which cybersecurity frameworks best address their specific needs, while satisfying regulatory requirements.
“For regulatory frameworks, there is no decision — they’re a requirement that must be followed, with significant financial penalties for non-compliance. However, businesses still have important choices to make around voluntary frameworks. Business objectives, risk approach, available resources, and vendor support all influence which framework will be most beneficial,” says Anscombe.
The consequences of inadequate security measures extend beyond immediate financial losses, making compliance failure an urgent business concern across all industries. “Thanks to the disaster management protocol it already had in place, SAA was able to respond to the breach and get back online relatively quickly. However, in the case of the NHLS, the ransomware attack put sensitive medical data of millions of patients at risk and disrupted systems in the middle of dealing with an mpox outbreak,” says Anscombe.
“Data from our bi-annual Threat Report shows that South Africa is the most targeted country in Africa when it comes to infostealer and ransomware attacks. Being at the forefront of the continent’s digital transformation and having a relatively strong economy, South Africa is at the crosshairs of sophisticated cyberattacks. Businesses, regardless of their size, need to take this into account,” he adds.
Cybersecurity frameworks are regularly updated to reflect emerging cybersecurity threats, as well as new tactics for safety. However, rigid implementation might impede business operations and can become counterproductive. Businesses must determine their approach to acceptable risk and adapt frameworks appropriate for their scale and capabilities.
“An important factor for small and medium-sized businesses is whether the framework can be realistically adopted. Some provide requirements that are more appropriate for smaller enterprises that may lack the sophisticated resources, but still require robust cybersecurity protection,” says Anscombe. “For elements that are modified or not implemented, there should be documented justification explaining why the adaptation was necessary.”
The goal isn’t perfect compliance with every aspect of a framework, but rather effective protection that enables business growth. “If you take the approach of merely ticking boxes for minimum requirements, you may end up compliant — but not properly protected. If you stick too strictly to all requirements, your team might become overwhelmed. Careful consideration of what is right for your business and industry — supported by an effective cybersecurity provider — is the best way to ensure protection,” says Anscombe.