This week’s digest is packed with news from Africa. Let’s explore how the continent is battling with cybersecurity problems. 

A recent study by Psono ranked 54 countries on their cybersecurity readiness, evaluating factors like cybersecurity index scores, public interest in secure password practices, cyber workforce density, and digital competitiveness. Among African countries, Nigeria landed in the bottom 10 for data security preparedness, while Kenya performed impressively, ranking sixth and making it in the top 10.

South Africa, which was ranked 32nd out of 54 countries according to the research, has faced a serious incident: Standard Bank, the country's major financial group, admitted experiencing a data breach. A senior employee copied client data onto an unprotected personal device, violating the bank's strict security protocols. Standard Bank confirmed that the data copied included limited personal and financial information of a limited number of clients. Also, the bank assured that clients’ PINs were not affected and the systems were not compromised.

In accordance with the Personal Information Protection Act, Standard Bank notified the affected customers and the relevant regulatory authorities. The bank has initiated a disciplinary process against the employee involved. Standard Bank also apologized for the distress that this incident may have caused its clients.

Unfortunately, such cases are not something rare today. As digital data volumes grow, so do the risks associated with them. Along with this, the human factor is omnipresent. In this context, it is crucial to ensure the utmost security of your data assets. If you are looking to enhance your company's information security without the need to hire an IS expert or purchase costly software or hardware, a managed security service could be the solution. Click here to get your free trial and make sure MSS is the right choice for your business.