CSIR Media Briefing: Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Описание: Ransomware attacks continue to be a major concern, with attackers demanding hefty ransoms in exchange for decrypting encrypted data. Sensitive data breaches have become increasingly common, leading to financial losses, reputational damage and legal consequences. Cybercrime has a substantial financial impact on South Africa, costing businesses an average cost of R50 million per security breach and the country billions of rands annually.

On Tuesday, 8 October 2024, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) hosted a hybrid media briefing where cybersecurity experts presented the findings of four national cybersecurity surveys conducted by the CSIR. In the 2023/24 financial year, the CSIR commissioned the national cybersecurity surveys working with partners such as the Cybersecurity Hub under the Department of Digital Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT). The purpose of the surveys was to gain insights into four key cybersecurity topics.

Key topics to be covered in the findings:

Cybersecurity skills gap: Share the results of the survey on cybersecurity skills gaps in South Africa, highlighting critical shortages and potential solutions.
Cybersecurity preparedness and response: Discuss the findings related to the preparedness and response capabilities of public sector organisations to cyber incidents.
Cybersecurity incident trends: Present the results on the types and frequency of cyber incidents in South Africa, identifying emerging threats and trends.
Digital identity landscape: Explore the findings on the state of digital identity in South Africa and its effectiveness in protecting users online.

The CSIR believes that by addressing these recommendations, South Africa can significantly enhance its cybersecurity posture, safeguarding its infrastructure and citizens from cyber threats.

About the CSIR:
The CSIR, an entity of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, is one of the leading scientific and technology research, development and implementation organisations in Africa. Constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1945 as a science council, the CSIR undertakes directed and multidisciplinary research and technological innovation and industrial and scientific development to improve the quality of life of all South Africans. For more information, visit https://www.csir.co.za/

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