Heirs Technologies, a pan-African digital transformation and technology solutions provider, has released the second edition of its industry report, Africa’s Cybersecurity Landscape 2026, warning that AI-powered attacks, ransomware, financial fraud and credential theft are growing threats to the continent’s digital economy.The report, which examines cybersecurity challenges across Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa, found that 82 per cent of respondents in sub-Saharan Africa said people within their professional or personal networks had been affected by cyber-enabled fraud in the preceding 12 months, while more than 55 per cent of cybercrime cases across Africa now incorporate artificial intelligence. The report also highlighted that AI-written phishing emails achieve a 54 per cent click rate compared with 12 per cent for human-written ones, and that deepfake fraud has risen sevenfold across Africa in six months.
Sub-Saharan Africa tops the world for cyber fraud, with attackers targeting payment switches, mobile wallets and the systems that move value, according to the report, which cited $484 million in reported cybercrime losses in 2025, up from $192 million in 2024. The report also noted that 1.6 million online attacks on Nigerian users were blocked in the first half of 2026, with the 2025 Nigeria Customs attack estimated to have cost $18 million and stalled port clearance. The report identified ransomware, financial fraud, credential theft and AI-enabled attacks as major cybersecurity risks accompanying the continent’s rapid digital transformation, with 28 per cent of attack events being ransomware, the top entry point. The findings underscore the growing sophistication of cyber threats confronting businesses and individuals across Africa, with the report noting that 63 per cent of sub-Saharan organisations lack critical cyber skills.
The report examined how evolving regulations and data localisation requirements are reshaping enterprise security priorities, noting that from January 1st, 2027, all Nigerian payment data must be stored in Nigeria, with similar rules in Kenya and South Africa, and that organisations have 72 hours to report a major breach to ngCERT under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act. The report projected that cloud-based cybersecurity spending in sub-Saharan Africa would grow at a compound annual growth rate of 14.63 per cent through 2031, reflecting increasing demand for digital protection solutions.
However, the report noted that foreign-currency pricing and the high cost of security tools were making cybersecurity increasingly difficult for many African businesses to afford, creating opportunities for locally delivered, cost-effective managed security services. The report identified opportunities in AI-powered threat monitoring, managed security services and Security Operations Centre-as-a-Service (SOC-as-a-Service) to address the cost and operational challenges facing African businesses, noting that 70.69 per cent of 2025 security spending came from large corporations, while SME security spending is projected to grow at 14.87 per cent yearly through 2031, the fastest of any segment.
The report recommended stronger cybersecurity capabilities, increased investment in cybersecurity talent, improved regulatory alignment and closer collaboration among enterprises, policymakers and technology providers, with specific guidance for enterprise leaders and CISOs to move to local-currency managed security, adopt zero-trust identity controls, and hold suspicious transfers in real time. For policymakers and regulators, the report recommended harmonising data rules across regions, extending 72-hour incident reporting to energy, ports and utilities, and funding hands-on skills academies.
Commenting on the report, Chief Executive Officer of Heirs Technologies, Obong Idiong, said: “At Heirs Technologies, we believe Africa’s digital expansion must be built on an unshakeable foundation of trust and resilience. As cyberthreats become increasingly sophisticated, protecting this growth is essential to sustaining the continent’s digital transformation.”
Africa Presents is a Pan-African digital magazine and monthly publication covering politics, business, economy, culture, tech, and the stories shaping Africa and its diaspora. Visit africapresents.com and follow @AfricaPresents for daily coverage and monthly themed magazine editions.
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