Cybercriminal activity in South Africa surged by 14% between July 2024 and July 2025, according to Check Point Research’s Global Threat Intelligence Report. This rising threat affects businesses of all sizes, with recent cyberattacks on state-owned airline South African Airways (SAA) and JSE-listed mining company Eastern Platinum (Eastplats) demonstrating that even well-resourced organisations are not immune to risks.
For smaller businesses, the stakes are even higher. As Ryno de Kock, Head of Distribution at PSG Insure, explains, the ability to withstand the financial and operational fallout of a cyberattack depends largely on scale. “Larger businesses may have the reserves to recover quite quickly from an incident, whereas smaller businesses often cannot.”
Against this backdrop, Cybersecurity Awareness Month serves as a timely reminder for South African SMEs to prioritise digital resilience and risk mitigation. Here are five practical steps that de Kock says small business owners can take to protect their operations from cybercrime:
- Implement strong access controls
Protecting sensitive data requires limiting who can see and use it. Restrict access on a need-to-know basis, use multi-factor authentication (MFA) for critical systems, and insist on strong, unique passwords. These measures significantly reduce the risk of unauthorised entry into your systems.
- Keep systems and software up to date
Outdated systems are a gift to cybercriminals, who often exploit known vulnerabilities. Staying current with updates to operating systems, antivirus programs, and business-critical applications is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to strengthen your defences.
- Educate and train employees
Technology alone is not enough. Human error remains a leading cause of data breaches, with nearly three out of four incidents involving an avoidable mistake made by a human. “Regular training empowers employees to recognise phishing emails, suspicious links, and unsafe downloads,” says de Kock. “Clear policies around password management and the handling of sensitive data further reduce the likelihood of accidental breaches,” he adds.
- Invest in cyber liability insurance
Cyber liability insurance helps businesses cover costs associated with cyberattacks, such as ransomware payments, data recovery, legal fees, and reputational management. “For South African SMEs, cyber insurance is a critical risk mitigation tool,” says de Kock. “It ensures that if the worst happens, your business can recover quickly without devastating financial loss.”
- Develop a cyber incident response plan
No defence is foolproof. Having a clear incident response plan ensures your business can act quickly to contain a breach, communicate effectively with stakeholders, and restore operations. Cyber liability insurance often complements these plans, covering recovery costs and expert support when needed.
“By taking these steps, small businesses can significantly reduce their exposure to cyber risks while safeguarding their employees, clients, and reputation,” de Kock says.
“The key is a proactive approach that ensures prevention, preparation, and protection through both best practices and insurance coverage, and this is much easier to achieve with the help of a short-term insurance adviser, who can help spot any gaps in cyber protection,” he concludes.