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 cyber incident that disrupted access to its online platforms. In 2024, the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) was hit by a ransomware attack, which resulted in the loss of 1,2 terabytes of data. These are not isolated incidents, they represent a growing pattern of attacks against businesses that are unprepared when it comes to modern cybersecurity challenges.
“Cybersecurity frameworks offer a blueprint for digital safety and data regulation compliance, but as these develop and proliferate in response to emerging cyberthreats, 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,” says Anscombe.
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.
Cybersecurity frameworks
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 their 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 are 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.
The goal is not 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 adequately 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.
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