Cybersecurity: A Sensible Punt on Africa's Digital Future?
Every so often, the investment world gets terribly excited about a new frontier. Right now, that frontier is Africa's digital economy. We hear tales of Nigerian fintech and South African cloud adoption, and it all sounds rather thrilling. But I find that whenever there’s a gold rush, the people who make the real, lasting money aren’t the frantic prospectors, but the chaps selling the picks and shovels. In today’s digital gold rush, the picks and shovels are cybersecurity.
Let’s be brutally honest. As billions of dollars start zipping through digital payment systems in Lagos and company data shifts to the cloud in Cape Town, who else is paying attention? The criminals, of course. The digital world is a bit like a lovely new high street. It’s fantastic until the burglars realise no one has bothered to fit any locks. This gaping security hole isn't just a problem, it's a colossal business opportunity for the companies selling the locks.