2025 CPR Manufacturing Report shows rising ransomware and cyber risks for global and African manufacturers

Check Point’s research, as detailed in its 2025 CPR Manufacturing Report, highlights rising cyber threats against the global manufacturing sector

The manufacturing industry is under increasing pressure from cyberattacks, with organisations facing an average of 1,585 weekly incidents in 2025 — a 30% increase year-over-year.

Africa’s industrial and manufacturing entities are not immune, experiencing an average of 1,872 attacks per week over the last four weeks, highlighting the growing global threat landscape.

Ransomware remains the dominant concern, inflicting losses that can reach hundreds of millions of dollars and, in severe cases, pushing companies into insolvency. Beyond financial impacts, cyberattacks disrupt production, delay shipments, erode customer trust, and attract regulatory scrutiny. As such, cybersecurity has become a core business risk, not merely an IT concern.

“Attackers know that every hour of halted production can cost millions. That’s why ransomware groups view manufacturers as prime targets: they don’t need to steal sensitive customer data when they can simply shut down operations and demand payment,” explained Lorna Hardie, regional director: Africa, Check Point Software Technologies.

Global examples illustrate the potential consequences. In 2023, a ransomware attack disrupted Clorox operations, leading to US$356mn in quarterly losses. Nucor, North America’s largest steel producer, had to halt production after a 2025 cyber breach. Sensata Technologies suffered delays in shipping and production due to ransomware, and sustained attacks forced Schumag AG into insolvency in 2024.

Supply chain connectivity further amplifies risk. Manufacturers rely on extensive networks of suppliers, global partners, and IoT/OT systems, meaning that one vulnerable link can compromise entire production lines. Criminal groups now sell access to manufacturing networks, giving ransomware affiliates direct paths into operations. In Africa, heavy reliance on Europe as a trading partner increases vulnerability, particularly with the EU’s NIS2 Directive imposing stricter security requirements on critical sectors. “African businesses must act now to comply with the EU's NIS2 Directive or risk losing valuable revenue streams through their European trading partners,” Hardie warned.

State-backed and hacktivist groups are also increasingly targeting manufacturers. Intellectual property theft, including drone blueprints, automotive designs, and defense-related technologies, has been on the rise. Politically motivated disruptions affect manufacturers tied to critical infrastructure, energy, and defense supply chains. Such incidents underscore that manufacturing security is not only a technical issue but also a matter of national competitiveness and economic stability.

To safeguard operations, executives are urged to adopt proactive strategies:

• Build resilience into operations: Treat downtime as a board-level risk, test continuity plans, and ensure recovery times are measured in hours.

• Secure the supply chain: Implement cyber standards across vendors, enforce visibility into third-party access points, and address potential vulnerabilities.

• Protect intellectual property: Recognise that cyber threats are increasingly deliberate and geopolitical. Invest in monitoring, advanced detection, and data-loss prevention.

• Invest in proactive defense: Move beyond compliance to prevent disruptions before they occur.

“Executives who embrace these priorities are not just defending against today’s threats, they are building a competitive edge. In an industry where uptime, trust, and innovation drive market share, resilience becomes a differentiator,” Hardie noted.

With cyberattacks intensifying in both frequency and sophistication, manufacturing executives must act decisively. Those who prioritize cyber resilience today will protect not only their production lines but also the long-term future and competitiveness of their business.

Sercel WiNG DFU-3C passive seismic sensors can be used to image subsurface hydrogen-generating systems with greater precision and efficiency. (Image source: Sercel)

Viridien, an advanced technology, digital and Earth data company, and Mantle8, a French geoscience company specialising in natural hydrogen exploration, have formed a strategic partnership to accelerate hydrogen exploration across the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region

Under the partnership, Mantle8 will leverage GeoVerse, Viridien’s world-leading geological database, to support natural hydrogen exploration in EMEA, as well as using WiNG DFU-3C passive seismic sensors from Sercel, Viridien’s Sensing & Monitoring business, for the imaging of subsurface hydrogen-generating systems. Through the combination of Viridien’s subsurface data and Sercel’s advanced sensor technology, Mantle8 will accelerate its prospect generation and scanning for high-potential zones across EMEA.

“Europe is blessed with abundant, low-emission natural hydrogen, and the drive to map these resources and start drilling is stronger than ever. This partnership gives us the ability to reach that goal much faster,” said Emmanuel Masini, founder and CEO of Mantle8. “Access to Viridien’s GeoVerse database gives us the scale of data needed to fuel our prospect generation and sharpen our targeting of promising zones in line with Mantle8’s thesis. Building on that foundation, deployment of Sercel WiNG DFU-3C sensors provides the capability to image entire hydrogen systems and de-risk drilling programs.”

“Viridien is committed to working with partners to develop knowledge and solutions that will accelerate the energy transition. Natural hydrogen is one area, alongside geothermal energy, critical mineral exploration and carbon storage, where our advanced geoscience and data science technology can support the global effort to meet net-zero targets,” remarked Chris Page, EVP, New Business Development, Viridien. “Together, we are enabling faster, more accurate identification of promising natural hydrogen zones, supporting a cleaner energy future for the EMEA region.”

Mantle8 has confirmed some of the highest recorded hydrogen concentrations at its Comminges prospect in the French Pyrenees. Utilising Sercel WiNG DFU-3C sensors, combined with Mantle8’s HOREX multiphysics imaging technology, the first-ever images of an entire active hydrogen system have been produced, validating Mantle8’s proprietary exploration technology and reinforcing the commercial case for natural hydrogen as a low-cost, low-carbon energy source.

Google drives AI adoption, digital skills, and connectivity to empower young Africans and reshape innovation landscapes

Africa, home to the world’s largest youth population expected to surpass 830 million by 2050, is at a pivotal moment for technological advancement. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) presents a transformative opportunity to empower young Africans, enhance innovation, and bridge the digital divide

Google has long recognised that access to AI requires more than just technology. It also demands connectivity, products, and training. By making AI accessible, Google aims to expand opportunities for young people across the continent, ensuring the digital revolution benefits everyone and that AI does not widen existing inequalities.

Connectivity as the foundation for AI

Google’s commitment to African connectivity began in 2006 with the Seacom cable. In 2021, the company pledged US$1 billion over five years to strengthen digital infrastructure, an investment it has already exceeded. This funding has supported the development of resilient and secure networks essential for Africans to harness AI.

Recently, Google announced four strategic subsea cable hubs spanning North, South, East, and West Africa. These hubs will create digital corridors across the continent and beyond, enhancing international connectivity, boosting resilience, and driving economic growth. This initiative builds on existing projects such as the Google Cloud region in Johannesburg, the Equiano cable along Africa’s western coast, and Umoja, the first fiber optic route linking Africa directly to Australia. Collectively, these efforts have enabled over 100 million Africans to access the internet for the first time.

AI empowering youth and innovation

To accelerate learning and innovation, Google is providing college students aged 18 and above in Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe with a free one-year subscription to Google Gemini AI Pro. The suite includes tools like Deep Research for in-depth reports, Guided Learning as an AI companion, and coding and content creation resources, equipping students to tackle local challenges and seize new opportunities.

Google has trained 7 million Africans in AI skills and aims to reach an additional 3 million students, teachers, and young people by 2030. Over the past four years, the company has invested more than US$17 million in African universities and research institutions, with another US$9mn planned. Support for local languages has grown as well, with over 30 African languages added to Google Translate and more than 40 African voice datasets under development.

Driving African-led solutions

Google’s AI research teams in Kenya and Ghana are addressing real-world challenges such as flood forecasting, agricultural resilience, and infrastructure mapping. By 2030, Google aims to reach 500 million Africans with AI-powered solutions that empower communities, businesses, and governments.

Groundbreaking ceremony of the Nxtra by Airtel Africa 44MW Data Centre at Tatu City SEZ, Kenya (IMAGE SOURCE: Tatu City)

Airtel has started work on what is set to be East Africa’s largest data centre at Kenya’s Tatu City Special Economic Zone

The Nxtra Data Centre facility will deliver 44MW of IT power capacity in phases, and house new-generation servers as well as high-density GPU-ready racks with 99.999% uptime, multiple redundant fibre paths, and advanced security systems.

The data centre hub is supported by Tatu City's provision of 95% renewable energy, making the location one of the greenest in the world for data centre investors and clients.

“By building the largest data centre in East Africa, we are laying the groundwork for a thriving digital ecosystem that empowers businesses, supports governments, and unlocks new opportunities for communities across the region,” said Yashnath Issur, CEO, data centre, Airtel Africa.

“Nxtra by Airtel will be built to the highest global standards, ensuring reliability, scalability, and energy efficiency. Beyond capacity, our focus is on sustainability and resilience, enabling customers to fully leverage next-generation technologies in a secure environment."

Tatu City, a 5,000-acre new city on Nairobi's doorstep, is Kenya's first operational Special Economic Zone, located 30 minutes from Nairobiand being developed by Rendeavour.

It has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in world-class infrastructure to become East Africa's data centre hub.

The city's utilities include a 135MVA power substation and distribution network with 99.7% uptime, the country's only location with 24/7 water supply for industries, comprehensive storm water management, 70km of international-standard roads, and more than 120km of secure underground fibre.

“For more than a decade, we have invested in world-class infrastructure and sustainable energy at Tatu City to make it the natural home for data centres in East Africa,” said Stephen Jennings, founder & CEO of Rendeavour.

“Airtel's decision to locate Nxtra here is a powerful endorsement of this vision. As Nxtra joins over 100 global and local companies already thriving at Tatu City, we are confident that many more data centres will follow.”

One third of Tatu City’s energy demand is met directly by solar power, which is boosted by Kenya's predominantly renewable national grid.

Other major businesses already operating at Tatu City include Emirates Logistics and Heineken.

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