NAIROBI, Kenya, May 16 – Threats to Operational Technology (OT) are threatening organizations networks, a new Cyber Signals report by Microsoft shows.
The report highlights how cybercriminals are using OT as gateways into firms networks.
This comes at a time when IoT connections in the region are growing.
It’s this growth in OT and IoT that has given cybercriminals more opportunities to breach an organization’s network.
The latest edition has found that converging IT, Internet of Things (IoT), and OT systems pose a wider risk to critical infrastructure.
The growing rate of digital transformation within the African region is facilitating the emergence of new attack vectors and opportunities for cybercriminals.
The Kenyan government has identified cybersecurity as a key enabler for the digital economy.
The East African country faces increased cybersecurity challenges and risks that threaten national security and the country’s digital transformation agenda.
Cybersecurity statistics indicate that the number of cyber threats detected in Kenya has significantly increased in the last three years.
For instance, data from the Communications Authority of Kenya showed that the country detected 278 million threats in the period from July to September 2022, up 99.5 percent from a similar period a year before.
“Organizations are more connected than ever before. From the humble Wi-Fi router to the everyday office printer, IT teams need to view their IoT devices differently and secure them as they would any company laptop to prevent security breaches,” Microsoft Kenya Country Manager Phyllis Migwi says.
“Gaining complete visibility of an organization’s OT systems and protecting its IoT solutions will go a long way in preventing cyberattacks,” she adds.
The increase in digital transformation across the region has enabled organizations to manage their buildings, emergency systems, and access control with smart devices connected to a network.
Cyber Signals found that there are currently over 1 million connected devices publicly visible on the Internet running Boa, an outdated and unsupported software still widely used in IoT devices and software.
