The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Riskspot, Mr Isaac Jaffery, has emphasized that 90% of cybersecurity attacks on businesses are the result of human error, particularly actions taken by employees.
During the launch of the Riskspot platform, which aims to assist African businesses in reducing their vulnerability to cyberattacks, he revealed that Africa has become a prime target for hackers and online criminals.
He pointed to the continent’s weakest cybersecurity defenses as the reason why it is increasingly becoming a playground for cybercriminals.
According to Mr Jaffery, this weakness is rooted in the lack of awareness about cybersecurity and the reactive approach businesses tend to take.
Many organizations only realize the importance of investing in cybersecurity after they have already fallen victim to a breach.
The Riskspot solution
Riskspot, a cybersecurity solutions firm, is specifically designed to combat this challenge by focusing on the human factor in cybersecurity.
The platform, which launched on December 29, 2024, will assist businesses by offering tailored services that target employee behavior, a critical source of risk in the digital space.
The Riskspot platform will provide businesses with three specific solutions: identifying employee risk levels, tailoring individualized solutions to address these risks, and helping companies monitor behavioral changes through data analytics and statistics.
Mr Jaffery also shared that the platform leverages existing Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to assess the risks faced by firms that subscribe to their services, providing valuable insights into employee behavior and vulnerabilities.
Africa’s growing cybersecurity threats
The lack of cybersecurity awareness across African businesses has led to a surge in cybercrimes, with many companies in the region remaining unaware of the risks until they have been compromised.
Mr Jaffery highlighted that this reactive approach, where businesses only take cybersecurity seriously after an attack, needs to change.
“Most businesses in Africa don’t see the need to invest in cybersecurity until they’ve been breached,” Jaffery noted.
This lack of preventative action underscores the urgent need for platforms like Riskspot, which offer a comprehensive solution by focusing on human risk management and helping businesses safeguard against the growing tide of cyberattacks.
Riskspot’s promise to tackle human risk factors
As Africa faces an increasing number of cyber threats, Riskspot is positioning itself as a key player in the continent’s cybersecurity landscape.
By concentrating on human risk factors—the largest source of vulnerability in many organizations—the platform aims to reduce the number of attacks caused by employee actions.
The focus on employee awareness, training, and behavior monitoring could be the game-changer in the region’s cybersecurity strategy.
Mr Jaffery’s assertion that human errors account for the majority of cybersecurity breaches is a reminder to businesses across Africa that their employees are not just a potential weak link but also a line of defense.
By equipping them with the right knowledge and tools, Riskspot seeks to turn employees from liabilities into assets in the fight against cybercrime.
Cybersecurity experts
During the launch, Jeffrey Nyarko, a cybersecurity expert with the Margins Group, also shared his thoughts on the issue of human error in cybersecurity.
He stressed the importance of continuous vigilance, advising firms to implement proactive measures to secure their platforms and educate employees on the potential risks they face.
“At every point in time, you need to put in measures to ensure that you are secure,” Mr Nyarko explained. “You need to make sure your workers are aware of the dangers and measures to mitigate them.”
He emphasized that despite technological advancements, humans remain the greatest vulnerability to cyber threats.
Mr Nyarko’s point aligns with Riskspot’s mission to reduce human error in cybersecurity.
He further acknowledged that during the testing phase of the platform, about 500 employees were targeted to assess how they utilized the internet and what vulnerabilities they exposed.
In a rapidly digitizing Africa, where the internet is becoming an indispensable tool for business, cybersecurity must be at the forefront of organizational priorities.
With Riskspot’s launch, the future of cybersecurity for African businesses looks brighter as they move toward more proactive and holistic security measures that go beyond just technical solutions.
By SELORM GBORBIDZI, Accra
