South Africa has faced two major cybersecurity breaches this year and has been the victim of ongoing cyber abuse over a significant period, costing millions in losses. Over the past ten years, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and the Department of Public Works lost over R400 million to cyberattacks. The National Health Laboratory Services and the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission breaches this year further exposed South Africa’s vulnerabilities in cybersecurity and highlighted the global tech skills shortage.

"The World Economic Forum (WEF) released a report in January that provided a global outlook for cybersecurity. While cyber inequity is a major issue, the growing skills shortage will make addressing this risk extremely challenging," says Trisha Govender, Manager: MANCOSA School of Information and Digital Technology (SIDT).

Cyber Inequity

Cyber risk is one of the fastest-growing global concerns. As seen with the SARB and Department of Public Works losses, cyber incidents can have devastating financial impacts. The WEF reports that in 2022, the cybersecurity economy grew twice as fast as the global economy, and in 2023, it grew four times faster. Yet, cyber resilience has decreased by 31% since 2022, with organisations struggling to access adequate services, tools, and talent.

"This is a massive problem with potentially groundbreaking ramifications," warns Govender.

Contextualising the South African Skills Shortage

The cyber skills shortage in South Africa has been growing steadily. According to a whitepaper by Cisco in collaboration with the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, despite having over 57,000 cybersecurity professionals, South Africa still faces significant challenges. South African organisations face 1,450 cyberattacks per week on average, a 4% increase from the previous year.

While strategies such as upskilling, using managed services, and automation can mitigate the shortage, they are not enough to eliminate the risks. "Businesses must adopt a long-term approach that includes strong leadership, employee education, and risk-based resource allocation," says Govender. Government support and global collaboration are also crucial to addressing this gap.

Taking the Lead

MANCOSA, through the School of Information and Digital Technology (SIDT), is addressing the skills gap by offering courses and qualifications designed to produce world-class IT professionals. However, the WEF warns that cyber risks are evolving faster than skills development.

"The 2021 Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack showcased how quickly cyber threats can outpace existing skills," explains Govender. Artificial intelligence (AI) can play a crucial role in improving cybersecurity by identifying potential threats faster and more accurately than human teams. AI can also automate tasks such as monitoring and responding to threats, improving efficiency.

Muted Optimism

Despite the pressing need, only 15% of respondents to the WEF report expressed optimism that cyber skills will improve significantly in the next two years. MANCOSA is committed to addressing this challenge through its skillME platform, which offers targeted short courses focused on threat detection, incident response, and data protection. These courses are developed in collaboration with industry experts to ensure they remain relevant and effective in addressing emerging threats.

"Through MANCOSA skillME, we are playing a vital role in upskilling professionals and closing the cybersecurity skills gap," concludes Govender.

Press Release Submitted By:

• Company Name: MANCOSA
• Contact Person: Lola Lazarus
• Contact Email: communication@bullionpr.com
• Contact Number: 083 271 5336

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