AI-driven cyberattacks, including phishing and DDoS strikes, are evolving across Africa, requiring proactive security measures and awareness. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

As Africa advances in its digital transformation, cybercriminals are evolving in sophistication, leveraging AI to execute more strategic and effective attacks, including distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) strikes

Bryan Hamman, regional director for Africa at NETSCOUT, highlighted, “We're witnessing AI not just as a defence mechanism but also as a potential threat amplifier. The adoption of machine learning allows adversaries to automate reconnaissance and tailor attacks at extraordinary scale.”

AI: Shield or sword?

Across many African nations, the rapid pace of digital adoption is outstripping cybersecurity developments, leaving businesses, governments, and individuals increasingly vulnerable. Hamman warns that without proactive security measures, local organisations face AI-driven threats such as malware bypassing traditional defences, hyper-personalised phishing campaigns, and significantly reduced response windows.

"AI can be a double-edged sword, and African businesses must ensure they leverage its benefits for better protection, while steering clear of the darker side of AI by staying a step ahead of attackers," he advises. Generative AI (GenAI) is amplifying cyberthreats in several ways, including:

Enhanced social engineering:

• Creating more realistic and unique phishing emails.
• Mimicking voices in audio messages to deceive targets.

Image and video manipulation:

• Deepfake images are capable of bypassing biometric facial recognition when executed correctly.

Scaling cyberattacks:

• AI automation enables cybercriminals to expand their attack scope with greater efficiency.
• Automated phishing campaigns can target more individuals within an organisation, increasing the likelihood of infiltration.

Additionally, AI-driven DDoS attacks are becoming more sophisticated, with threat actors using AI to refine botnet behaviour and optimise target selection, making these attacks more damaging and harder to mitigate.

NETSCOUT urges organisations to remain vigilant by investing in AI-powered security solutions and promoting cybersecurity awareness through continuous training. "The key lies in not just reacting to threats, but pre-empting them," Hamman concluded. “As African markets grow, robust, AI-driven cybersecurity strategies will become increasingly crucial to ensuring that digital innovation is secure and sustainable.”

Kaspersky enhances Cloud Workload Security with advanced forensic tools, runtime protection, and orchestrator security for large-scale container deployments. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Kaspersky has rolled out a significant update to its Cloud Workload Security solution, introducing advanced security and monitoring capabilities tailored for containerised environments

This latest version strengthens forensic analysis, enhances runtime and orchestrator security, and is designed to support organisations managing large-scale container deployments.

A joint study by Kaspersky and ISG, titled “Alleviating Cloud Migration Difficulties with Robust Hybrid-Cloud and Container Security”, highlights the increasing adoption of cloud-native technologies. According to the findings, 78% of businesses are already leveraging these solutions, with 43% planning to expand their usage in the next two years. However, security remains a concern, as 60% of surveyed organisations struggle with continuous vulnerability scanning, leaving potential blind spots.

To address these challenges, Kaspersky has reinforced its Cloud Workload Security (CWS) solution with improved forensic capabilities, offering deeper insights into system events. These enhancements help security teams quickly identify risks, trace attack sources, and monitor subsequent events. The update also expands file operation monitoring during runtime, allowing organisations to track actions such as file creation, modification, and access—boosting overall security visibility.

Enhanced orchestrator security

Another major improvement is the orchestrator security analysis feature, which provides a detailed view of security issues across clusters and orchestrators. This enhancement covers key areas such as access control, networking, workload security, orchestrator configurations, and secret management. Additionally, the update introduces file threat protection for orchestrator nodes, further securing critical infrastructure.

Kaspersky CWS now also supports automatic container profiling for runtime, helping businesses detect abnormal behaviour across containers, groups, and clusters. This simplifies policy creation and strengthens security. Scalability has also been improved, allowing deployments to span several thousand nodes—ideal for large enterprises with complex container environments.

Furthermore, the update introduces a Light Agent for Windows within Kaspersky Hybrid Cloud Security (KHCS). This enables Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Windows (KESW) to function in Light Agent mode, ensuring feature parity with standard KESW agents and improving hybrid cloud protection.

"As businesses continue to accelerate their adoption of cloud-native technologies, they face growing challenges in securing complex cloud environments. Threat detection, forensic analysis, and runtime security must evolve to keep pace with modern cyber risks. With this update, Kaspersky Cloud Workload Security strengthens protection, providing deeper visibility, enhanced threat detection, and greater scalability. Our goal is to empower organisations with the tools they need to confidently secure their cloud infrastructure while maintaining efficiency and compliance in an increasingly dynamic digital landscape," concluded Anton Rusakov-Rudenko, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Cloud & Network Security Product Line at Kaspersky.

Also read: https://africanreview.com/ict/lagos-huawei-advance-smart-transport-systems

ITS sites will optimise traffic flow and alleviate congestion using advanced monitoring tools and AI-powered traffic solutions. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Lagos State has collaborated with Huawei Technologies to establish four new Intelligent Transport System (ITS) sites at key locations, aiming to enhance traffic management and road safety

These ITS sites will optimise traffic flow and alleviate congestion using advanced monitoring tools and AI-powered traffic solutions.

According to Nairametrics, the initiative will improve road safety for both commuters and pedestrians through the deployment of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and Traffic Management Solution (TMS) devices.

This development aligns with Lagos' broader smart city vision, utilising cutting-edge technology to enhance urban mobility and ease traffic congestion.

By providing real-time traffic updates, the ITS deployment is set to benefit daily commuters by enabling better route planning and reducing travel time.

Smart traffic innovation 

Logistics firms will experience more predictable transit schedules, increasing operational efficiency and cutting costs. Businesses, in turn, will benefit from improved delivery punctuality and enhanced employee commute reliability, boosting productivity.

Huawei's involvement in this initiative is part of its wider strategy to expand its footprint in Nigeria’s technology and infrastructure sectors.

In August 2024, Huawei Nigeria Digital Power unveiled its latest innovation in the commercial and industrial (C&I) solar market—the 150K series inverter. This cutting-edge solution is designed to enhance business energy efficiency by providing reliable and sustainable power options.

Previously, in 2022, Huawei partnered with the Lagos State government to build a high-speed wireless government campus network using its AirEngine Wi-Fi 6 technology. This improved operational efficiency and facilitated Lagos' digital transformation.

Huawei has also introduced a local cloud service in Nigeria, reducing data latency and ensuring compliance with data protection laws. This move offers Nigerian businesses faster and more reliable cloud access, benefiting startups and SMEs that rely on cloud-based solutions.

These initiatives emphasise Huawei's commitment to Nigeria’s digital transformation and infrastructure growth. The company's expanding presence highlights its role in driving technological advancement and improving public services.

The collaboration between Lagos State and Huawei in deploying Intelligent Transport Systems represents a major milestone in the city’s smart city journey. Through advanced technologies, Lagos seeks to create a more efficient, secure, and sustainable urban environment for residents and businesses alike.

Liquid cooling solutions have become essential for maintaining operational stability. (Image source: Vertiv)

Vertiv, a global leader in critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, has introduced Vertiv Liquid Cooling Services to enhance system availability, improve efficiency, and help customers manage the complexities of advanced liquid cooling systems

This service is now accessible worldwide

After working with early adopters in various regions for over a year, Vertiv has refined best practices and gained valuable insights, allowing for the global expansion of its liquid cooling service offerings. This experience ensures a proven and mature approach, delivering expert support to data centre operators worldwide based on real-world applications and success.

As AI workloads drive higher rack densities—now averaging 30 kW, with some exceeding 120 kW—data centres are experiencing greater heat loads and power demands. In response, liquid cooling solutions have become essential for maintaining operational stability.

Why liquid cooling now?

“The increasing reliance on liquid-cooled AI servers necessitates a comprehensive approach to lifecycle management,” said Sean Graham, research director of cloud and data centre at IDC. “Given the complexities inherent in these cooling ecosystems, a robust support programme is not merely advisable, but a best practice to ensure both system availability and long-term operational viability.”

Vertiv Liquid Cooling Services integrates liquid cooling solutions seamlessly with IT infrastructure, covering expert installation, commissioning, and ongoing maintenance. The service prioritises fluid management, system cleanliness, and the prevention of air ingress—crucial for ensuring reliability. Given the unique challenges of liquid cooling for AI applications, traditional maintenance approaches are insufficient. Vertiv applies decades of industry expertise to deliver best-practice preventive and condition-based maintenance, ensuring optimal system performance and uptime.

The service includes a comprehensive suite of solutions tailored for AI-driven and high-performance computing environments, ensuring long-term reliability and operational stability. Vertiv’s certified technicians and field engineers provide expert support at every stage, ensuring the efficiency of cooling loop fluid systems and heat rejection components.

Key service offerings include:

• Startup & Commissioning Services – Address potential issues proactively to prevent installation-related delays and ensure seamless system deployment, while verifying the quality of all connected equipment.
• Spare Parts Availability – Rapid access to replacement components to enable faster repairs and minimise downtime.
• End-to-End Lifecycle Support – Digital and proactive maintenance for long-term system reliability, with detailed documentation of the secondary fluid network to support ongoing system health.
• Comprehensive Fluid Management Services – Ensuring optimal coolant quality through sampling, laboratory testing, contamination prevention, and responsible disposal, enhancing resilience and efficiency.
• Emergency & Preventive Support – On-site and remote emergency response teams diagnose and resolve issues swiftly, reducing downtime and restoring operations efficiently

Vertiv Liquid Cooling Services is supported by the Vertiv Global Services network, offering project services, product support, testing, and training across its portfolio. With over 240 service centres, 3,500+ field engineers, and 190+ technical response specialists, Vertiv delivers expert support across multiple regions.

Also read: Raxio’s DRC data centre lands prestigious certification