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Africa’s Road Map to Identity Maturity and Security Using Privileged Access Controls

Addressing Cybersecurity Challenges in Africa: An Analyst's Review

Despite increasing IT investments, effective cybersecurity remains a major challenge across Africa, with more than 90% of businesses on the continent operating without even the minimum necessary cybersecurity protocols. Only a handful of African nations have cybersecurity regulations in place to protect consumers and businesses, and many organizations based or operating on the continent are unprepared for potential cyberattacks.

In this report, an IDC analyst reviewed key findings from multiple IDC Security Surveys (2022-2023) and IDC’s Worldwide Security Spending Guide (2023) to assess the cybersecurity landscape across Africa and to make informed recommendations on how African organizations can significantly improve their security posture by focusing on identity securing and privileged access controls.

Key cybersecurity findings for Africa

  • CheckmarkMore than 90% of businesses across Africa were operating without the minimum necessary cybersecurity protocols.
  • CheckmarkOnly 18% of organizations surveyed said they were using Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions, and Multifactor authentication (MFA) adoption stood at a mere 34%.
  • CheckmarkPhishing (62%) and insider threats (51%) are among the top 5 threats in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
  • CheckmarkAutomated response to security incidents is considered to be the most important investment priority (73%) in the next 12-18 months. Zero trust initiatives ranked second (52%).

A sneak preview from the report: the level of privileged access maturity in SSA

Stages of identity and access management maturity
Source: IDC Security Survey, 2023(January); SSA —n= 209

Download the report to learn

  • What digital adoption trends have led to vulnerable business postures across Africa.

  • Why IDC believes Privileged Access Management (PAM) and Identity Security should be at the core of modern security practices.

  • How to enhance security strategies to improve risk management and security outcomes using privileged access controls.

Quote

More than ever, entities in Africa need to get serious about identity security. Investments in identity security in Africa have been low, despite the high rate of curated spear phishing attacks plaguing the continent. In early 2022, when IDC surveyed 209 organizations across Sub-Saharan Africa, just 18% said they were using PAM solutions.

Shilpi Handa, Associate Director Research, Cybersecurity, IDC