Share

Cyber criminals come to Africa for 'backdoor' into European systems, conference hears

There appears to be a growing trend where cyber criminals come to Africa with new broadband networks in order to hack into systems in Europe and elsewhere in the world, according to Nic Rudnick, group CEO of Liquid Telecom.

At a briefing during AfricaCom on Tuesday, he said cyber criminals find security in Africa to be weaker.

"This offers them a back door by coming to Africa and using systems to get into European systems, for instance," said Rudnick.

"Security is, therefore, becoming an increasingly important component also for use of the cloud in Africa."

Liquid Telecom announced at the briefing that it has extended the availability of the cloud-based Microsoft Azure architecture "from the Cape to Cairo". To Rudnick one of the benefits, especially to African SMEs, would be that these cloud services are now becoming affordable and accessible in Africa.

For Rudnick the importance of this one-stop offering is that for the first time the cloud will actually be hosted in Africa as opposed to being hosted in Europe or Ireland and just accessed here.

"To me that is really what cloud and digital transformation mean for Africa. It is a game changer," said Rudnick.

"If I look at the sales we are achieving in terms of the cloud, they have been picking up. We started to see quite a rapid uptake, much faster than in previous years."

He said feedback he had obtained indicates that people in Africa are starting to look at the cloud as more than just a storage device and also at its computing ability.

That is why he emphasises that cyber security in this regard is becoming more and more important.

"One thing about the cloud is it is dependent on a fast, reliable network, because if the network goes down what then? People cannot run downstairs to the basement anymore and give the server a 'kick'," said Rudnick.
 
"That is why we will roll out fibre in each country we are in. Our overall vision is to be a pan-African network. We don’t just go to a country to plant a flag in it – there has to be a business model."

* Sign up to Fin24's top news in your inbox: SUBSCRIBE TO FIN24 NEWSLETTER

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
18.94
-0.0%
Rand - Pound
23.91
-0.0%
Rand - Euro
20.41
+0.1%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.34
+0.0%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.1%
Platinum
908.05
+1.2%
Palladium
1,014.94
+1.3%
Gold
2,232.75
-0.0%
Silver
24.95
-0.1%
Brent Crude
87.00
+1.8%
Top 40
68,346
+1.0%
All Share
74,536
+0.8%
Resource 10
57,251
+2.8%
Industrial 25
103,936
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,502
-0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders