🇿🇦 English, 22 October 2026, cyberattack cost
Boards Underestimating the Cost of a Cyberattack
AI has made attacks cheaper and faster, putting South African businesses in the crosshairs.
The country’s high connectivity, big financial services sector, and large mid-market are part of the reason for the high number of ransomware detections in South Africa.
Agentic AI systems can automate the attack chain, adapt when an exploit fails, and never tire, making small and medium-sized enterprises vulnerable.
The hidden costs of a breach include downtime averaging 22 days, lost income, idle payroll, and reputational damage.