By Jason Meinert
The recent cyberattack on Telecom Namibia has exposed vulnerabilities that no individual, business, or government can ignore.
It’s a stark reminder that Namibia’s ambitions for a digitally connected future, as envisioned in Vision 2030, must go hand-in-hand with robust cybersecurity measures.
Cybercrime has become one of the most pressing global challenges, and Namibia is no exception. The Allianz Risk Barometer 2023 ranks cybercrime as the fourth most significant risk for businesses in Namibia. Data shows Namibian businesses experienced 1,382 cyberattacks per week in 2021, 49% above the global average. Meanwhile, only 44% of management boards recognise cyber threats as a significant concern (Deloitte 2020).
Why Namibia Is Now a Bigger Target
The Telecom breach has likely put Namibia on the radar of global hacker groups, marking the country as an easy target and making repeated attacks almost inevitable. This means businesses and individuals must be extra vigilant.
Ransomware attacks, the most common type of attack in Namibia, have the potential to cripple industries such as tourism, retail, and logistics. Imagine a tourism operator unable to manage tours or take new bookings for weeks because their systems are held hostage. The financial and reputational fallout would be devastating.
The Human Factor: Our Weakest—and Strongest—Link
95% of cyberattacks succeed due to human interaction. Whether it’s clicking on a malicious link, sharing credentials, or falling for a phishing scam, human error remains the weakest link in cybersecurity. Yet, this is also where the greatest potential for defence lies.
Educating employees and individuals about threats like phishing and smishing is critical. Our experience shows that 20–30% of phishing emails in Namibia are fallen for, an alarming statistic that underscores the urgent need for awareness training.
Investing in technology without educating your staff is like installing expensive burglar bars, electric fences, and alarm systems—but leaving your front door wide open.
The Financial Impact of Cybercrime
Cybercrime disrupts businesses, erodes trust, and hinders economic growth:
â— Financial Costs: Recovery from breaches is expensive, often involving compensation, IT investigations, and system recovery that can take weeks. Often experts need to be flown in. Globally, 60% of small businesses shut down within six months of a major cyberattack.
◠Eroded Trust: Breaches undermine confidence not only in the business, but in digital platforms, slowing Namibia’s progress toward a smart, connected future.
â— Service Disruptions: Attacks can disrupt services causing delays, economic losses, and productivity declines.
Proactive Steps: Protecting Businesses and Individuals
Namibia cannot afford to wait for legislation or government policies. Businesses must act now.
- Invest in Employee Awareness and Training: Help employees recognise and respond to threats through training and practical phishing simulations, turning them into a first line of defence.
- Strengthen Systems and Infrastructure: Conduct regular vulnerability assessments, apply robust security standards and maintain secure backups to mitigate risks.
- Acknowledge SME Vulnerability: 50% of cyberattacks target SMEs (Cybersecurity Ventures 2023), making it crucial for smaller businesses to prioritise cybersecurity.
For individuals, vigilance is key. Monitor accounts, update passwords regularly, and remain cautious of suspicious emails or SMS messages.
A Call to Action
In the EU and US, businesses spend 2–5% of their annual revenue on cybersecurity, or 6% of their IT budgets. Namibia must adopt a similar mindset, viewing cybersecurity as an investment, not an expense.
Namibia has the potential to be a digital leader in Africa, but achieving this requires a cultural shift toward prioritising cybersecurity. Cybercrime isn’t just an IT issue—it’s a national and economic threat that affects everyone.
The Telecom attack is a wake-up call. Let’s not wait for another.
* Jason Meinert has over six years of international experience in cybersecurity, working with major brands like Lufthansa and BNP Paribas Bank. Based at Meinert Cybersecurity, Jason specialises in delivering effective training and solutions to protect Namibian businesses against evolving cyber threats.
