In a bid to enhance cybersecurity strategies, BeyondTrust, a global leader in intelligent identity and access security, has unveiled the IDC Technology Spotlight report, “Africa’s Road Map to Identity Maturity and Security Using Privileged Access Controls.”
This report, sponsored by BeyondTrust, delves into the imperative need for identity-centric security practices in Africa. It underscores the growing digital adoption trends that have left businesses vulnerable and offers insights on fortifying security strategies through privileged controls. The primary objective is to help Africa devise a robust privileged access security roadmap.
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The report, guided by an IDC analyst, draws from various IDC Security Surveys conducted from 2022 to 2023, as well as the IDC Worldwide Security Spending Guide for 2023. It seeks to understand the persisting challenges in cybersecurity across Africa and provides recommendations to align the cybersecurity roadmaps of African organizations with real-world threats.
Key findings from the report reveal significant concerns:
- Lack of Maturity in Identity Protocols: Many African organizations have not kept pace with evolving cybersecurity threats. Outdated IT strategies need to be revamped to address the ever-expanding network perimeters.
- Prioritizing PAM and Identity Security: The report emphasizes creating identity-based perimeters and access-based boundaries. It recommends that African organizations begin by securing privileged users.
- Preparation for Breaches: To thwart breaches initiated through phishing attacks, organizations must enforce robust application and password management, least-privileged controls, and just-in-time access policies. Compliance mandates necessitate the monitoring and management of all privileged access sessions.
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The report also brings to light the current state of cybersecurity readiness in Africa:
- More than 90% of businesses in Africa operate without essential cybersecurity protocols.
- Few African countries have implemented cybersecurity regulations to safeguard consumers and businesses.
- Despite the prevalence of curated spear phishing attacks, investments in identity security remain low in Africa.
- Privileged access control and multifactor authentication adoption rates are strikingly low.
In light of these findings, enhancing identity security has become imperative in Africa. With the rising threat of cyberattacks and spear phishing incidents, organizations must take swift action to fortify their cybersecurity practices.
