Kaspersky to Highlight Local Cyber Security Pain Points, Potential Solutions

Why It Matters

The insights underscore how AI‑enhanced threats and supply‑chain vulnerabilities are reshaping risk profiles for African enterprises, prompting urgent investment in holistic security programs.

Key Takeaways

• Kaspersky to present at ITWeb Security Summit 2026 in Cape Town
• AI-driven attacks like deepfakes and personalized phishing highlighted
• ‘Shadow AI’ use risks data leakage without IT oversight
• 31% of enterprises suffered supply‑chain attacks in last 12 months
• Balanced security needs people, processes, and technology integration

Pulse Analysis

The African cyber‑security landscape is entering a new era as artificial intelligence becomes a weapon in the hands of threat actors. At the ITWeb Security Summit 2026, Kaspersky will illustrate how AI accelerates password cracking, malware development, and the creation of convincing deepfakes, making attacks more targeted and harder to detect. This shift forces organisations to move beyond traditional perimeter defenses and adopt threat‑intelligence that can anticipate AI‑driven tactics across both IT and operational environments.

A growing blind spot is the rise of “shadow AI,” where employees deploy public AI tools without oversight, inadvertently exposing confidential data. Kaspersky’s research indicates that 31% of enterprises worldwide experienced supply‑chain attacks in the past twelve months, the highest rate among all threat categories. These incidents highlight how interconnected ecosystems expand the attack surface, allowing malicious actors to infiltrate trusted software pipelines, steal training data, or embed malware in AI development workflows. The convergence of shadow AI and vulnerable supply chains creates a perfect storm for data breaches and ransomware.

To counter these evolving risks, Kaspersky advocates a balanced security framework that blends educated personnel, well‑defined processes, and robust technology. Continuous employee awareness programs, clear incident‑response policies, and unified visibility across IT, OT, and IIoT systems are essential. Investing in platforms that provide real‑time telemetry and AI‑enhanced detection can give organisations the clarity needed to protect revenue, resilience, and long‑term growth in an increasingly complex digital world.