Cybercrime in South Africa isn’t slowing down; in fact, it’s evolving at a pace that leaves many small to medium-sized businesses scrambling to keep up. If you think hackers are only after big corporates with huge data vaults, think again. In reality, SMBs are a prime target, simply because attackers assume smaller businesses don’t have the same layers of protection as the big players.
So, what’s really happening in 2025? Let’s take a look at the numbers and unpack what they mean for your business.
According to Accenture’s 2024 report, South Africa is now the third most targeted country in the world for cyberattacks, trailing only behind the U.S. and the U.K. That’s not a stat we want to brag about. The country experiences roughly 577 cyberattacks per hour.
One of the most worrying trends is the spike in ransomware attacks. In 2023, South Africa saw a 78% increase in ransomware incidents compared to the year before, with many attackers using “double extortion” tactics, meaning they don’t just encrypt your files, but also threaten to leak sensitive data unless a ransom is paid.
And it’s not just large financial institutions or government departments being targeted. Businesses across healthcare, retail, professional services, and even education are being hit. Why? Because criminals know that downtime for an SMB can be devastating, making them more likely to pay up.
The financial impact of a data breach in South Africa continues to rise. IBM’s 2024 Cost of a Data Breach report places the average cost of a breach locally at R49 million. For an SMB, that number alone is enough to sink the ship. But beyond the rands and cents, businesses face reputational damage, legal liability, and the potential loss of customer trust that can take years to rebuild.
Think about it: if your customers can’t trust you with their data, what reason do they have to keep doing business with you?
Cybercriminals in South Africa are getting smarter about how they operate. Gone are the days when spammy “Nigerian prince” emails were your biggest worry. Today’s tactics include:
Phishing: Still the number one entry point for attackers.
Many South African employees continue to fall victim to convincing-looking emails that trick them into sharing credentials.
Business Email Compromise (BEC): Fraudsters pose as CEOs, suppliers, or partners to trick businesses into making fake payments. The South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) reported a 26% rise in BEC cases in 2024.
Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS): Yes, it’s a business now. Criminal groups rent out ransomware toolkits to others, lowering the barrier for would-be attackers.
These techniques are designed to exploit human error and gaps in security controls, proving that the weakest link is often not your firewall, but your inbox.
Here’s the good news: protecting your business doesn’t mean building Fort Knox. It comes down to a layered approach that covers the basics while preparing for the worst. For example:
Start with employee awareness training, because no firewall can stop someone from clicking on a dodgy link. Pair this with strong email security tools that filter out malicious messages before they land in inboxes. From there, invest in multi-factor authentication (MFA), which makes it far harder for attackers to log in even if credentials are stolen.
Backups are another non-negotiable. A tested, secure backup ensures that if ransomware does strike, you can recover your data without paying the criminals a cent. Regular software updates and patch management are equally important; many breaches still happen because of outdated systems that attackers know how to exploit.
And finally, have an incident response plan. Knowing who to call, what steps to take, and how to communicate during a breach can save precious hours and potentially millions of rands.
Cybercrime in South Africa is not a distant threat; it’s here, it’s growing, and SMBs are firmly in the crosshairs. But with the right mix of people, processes, and technology, your business doesn’t have to become another statistic.
At Yolo, we help businesses just like yours navigate this digital minefield with practical, tailored IT and cybersecurity solutions. Whether it’s email security, cloud backups, or staff training, we’re here to keep you safe so you can get on with what you do best: running your business.