Contributing around 10 to 12% of South Africa’s GDP, the transport and logistics sector supports almost every part of the country’s economic activity. Every item that reaches a store shelf, factory line or export terminal relies on a network of trucks, trains and ports working together.
Globally, the transportation and logistics market is expected to surpass $570 billion by 2030. With the average cost of a data breach now topping $4 million, or around R69 million, and most incidents taking almost 300 days to contain, the stakes for keeping these systems secure are higher than ever before.
The transport necessity
For South Africa, improving logistics efficiency is also an economic necessity. Transport costs account for a significant portion of product pricing, and any disruption to that chain, whether physical or digital, can have widespread consequences.
Encouragingly, progress is underway. Transnet’s turnaround efforts, including partnering with private operators through concession models, smarter port management under the Transnet Port Authority, and investments in intelligent rail and road monitoring, can help reshape how goods move through the country. Yet as public and private systems converge, new layers of digital risk are emerging.
When IT meets OT
The move toward smart logistics brings significant benefits through fleet telematics, IoT-enabled sensors, and predictive maintenance systems, helping reduce fuel use, improve safety, and optimise delivery routes. Many of the systems driving this progress, known as operational technology (OT), were never designed with cybersecurity in mind.
Traditionally, OT systems like SCADA controllers and warehouse automation networks were built to prioritise uptime and safety, not data protection. Now that these systems are increasingly connected to corporate IT networks, they are exposed to a new breed of cyber threat: a single vulnerable controller or depot device can disrupt an entire supply chain.
Visibility in and around these networks remains one of the biggest challenges. A good number of logistics operators still manage siloed IT and OT networks and lack a full inventory of connected devices. Without that clarity, detecting unusual activity or isolating a breach can take days rather than minutes. At the same time, older control systems, often running unsupported software, require extra care, including network segmentation, strict access controls, and constant monitoring to prevent lateral movement between systems.
The real risk lies at the point where these two worlds meet. A phishing email targeting a staff member in the finance department could ultimately compromise a controller at a fuel depot or a sensor on a rail line – and that represents risks far beyond just financial or digital ones.
Globally, we have seen attacks on shipping terminals and freight management platforms cause port congestion and delivery delays lasting weeks. In South Africa, where logistics networks are already stretched, a similar incident could have severe second and third-order effects across industries that depend on the continuous movement of goods, not to mention physical safety concerns.
Building resilience into logistics
Securing this environment requires a unified approach that integrates IT and OT security. The first step is knowing it is connected: from vehicles to devices and data flow. Once that visibility is established, operators can put layered defences in place, including segmenting networks, enforcing Zero Trust principles, and monitoring traffic for anomalies with AI-powered analytics.
Operations centres are particularly critical because they coordinate everything from route planning to cargo handling and are prime targets for disruption. Implementing Zero Trust design principles, least-privilege access, strong authentication, and encrypted communications helps maintain continuity even when systems are under threat.
Collaboration between IT, engineering, and security teams is essential for this type of system to work. So too, is ensuring that every employee understands their role in preventing cyber incidents.
Public-private partnerships
Cybersecurity in transport cannot be managed in isolation. Much of South Africa’s logistics infrastructure involves some level of collaboration between public entities and private operators. Initiatives such as Transnet’s concession framework and joint port projects show what is possible when both sides work together.
These partnerships can accelerate digital transformation, but they also require shared responsibility for security. Aligning with recognised frameworks such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and IEC 62443 standards can help create consistent protection across all participants in the value chain.
Smart logistics is often discussed in the context of sustainability, where cutting emissions and improving efficiency are worthy goals, but none of these gains can be sustained if digital systems are vulnerable to attack.
A network that is resilient, safe, and reliable is as important to sustainability as an electric fleet or a solar-powered depot. That is why embedding cybersecurity into every connected asset, from rail signalling systems to warehouse robotics, helps ensure that progress toward greener transport does not come at the cost of resilience.
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