🇿🇦 English, 3 November 2026, cybersecurity risks
South African businesses rank cyber incidents and business interruption above global averages
Cyber incidents and business interruption are top concerns for South African businesses, with 48% and 40% of respondents naming them as major risks.
South African risk managers rank cyber incidents and business interruption well above the global average. The Allianz Risk Barometer for 2026 puts cyber incidents at the top of South Africa’s business risks for the second year running, with 48% of respondents naming it, against 42% globally and up from 44% a year earlier. Business interruption ranks second locally at 40%, 11 points above the global figure of 29%, and up seven points in a year.
The five main concerns for South African businesses are being tricked into paying, not being able to trade, AI turned against the business, the supplier as the way in, and being held accountable. These concerns are reflected in the World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 and the Allianz Risk Barometer for 2026.
The research suggests that identity weaknesses played a material role in nearly 90% of investigations, and that preventable gaps enabled the intrusion in more than 90% of breaches. This highlights the need for businesses to focus on preventing attacks rather than relying on automated security products.