Voices of DGIT | Thought Leadership Article
By Richard Theunissen, Presales Engineer – Southern Africa
Every day, Africa generates more data than ever before, from mobile payments and telemedicine to precision farming and online learning. Data has become the lifeblood of Africa’s digital economy. But here’s the critical question: are we protecting it?
Africa’s economic growth is being powered by data. Yet without proper safeguards, that same data could become our biggest vulnerability. The stakes are high: cyberattacks across Africa are rising sharply, targeting everything from banks and hospitals to government systems, even small businesses. If we don’t act now, one breach can undo years of progress. Growth without security is like building a castle on sand.
Who owns Africa’s Data and where is it going?
Africa’s digital infrastructure is expanding, but control over our data still largely resides elsewhere. Out of the world’s more than 8,000 data centres, only around 152 are located in Africa, which is less than 2% of global capacity. This means most African data is still hosted and processed offshore, often governed by foreign privacy laws.
That should raise some serious questions:
- Who truly owns African data?
- Where is it stored?
- And who profits from it?
If data really is the “new gold”, then exporting it without refining or securing it locally is like shipping raw minerals abroad and buying back the finished products at a premium. To build lasting digital wealth, we must strengthen data sovereignty, invest in local infrastructure, and ensure African data creates African value.
Thankfully, new policies are emerging. Countries like Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Morocco are advancing data-protection laws that mirror the EU’s GDPR. The African Union’s Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection (Malabo Convention) is also setting a continental framework. But enforcement and investment must catch up with ambition.
Data Is driving Africa’s leap forward
Africa’s digital economy has expanded from just 1.1% of GDP in 2012 to an estimated 5.2% by 2025 (World Bank). That growth is driven by smart use of data across fintech, e-health, agritech, and e-commerce.
Take Kenya’s M-Pesa, the mobile-money platform that now serves over 50 million active users across multiple countries. It has revolutionised access to finance, lifting millions into the formal economy. But it also depends entirely on secure, reliable data systems. Any major breach would not just threaten customer privacy, it could destabilise confidence in digital finance itself.
This underscores a fundamental truth: security builds trust, and trust fuels adoption. Africans are embracing digital services at record speed, but people will only continue to do so if they believe their personal and financial data is safe.
Trust Is the New Business Advantage
In a connected economy, trust is a currency. Customers, partners, and investors all want to know that their data is being handled responsibly. One data breach can damage not only your brand but your entire business ecosystem.
According to IBM’s 2024 Cost of a Data Breach Report, the average cost of a breach in Africa reached $3.4 million, up 12% year-on-year. Beyond the financial impact, reputational recovery takes far longer. Organisations that embed cybersecurity into their culture gain a competitive edge. It signals integrity and professionalism, qualities that attract long-term partnerships and investment.
When security becomes part of your brand’s DNA, it transforms from a cost centre into a business enabler.
Building it Right from the Start
The good news is that Africa still has the advantage of being early in its digital journey. Unlike mature economies weighed down by legacy infrastructure, Africa has the chance to design secure systems from the ground up.
Investing in local data centres, cyber-resilience training, and public-private partnerships can help build a digital foundation that is secure, scalable, and sovereign. Initiatives like Africa Data Centres’ expansion projects and Microsoft’s hyperscale facilities in South Africa and Kenya are important steps, but regional diversity and redundancy are key.
This is not just about technology, it’s about ownership, accountability, and trust. If we want to realise the promise of Africa’s digital economy, we must treat data security not as an afterthought but as the bedrock of sustainable growth.
The Way Forward
Africa’s future prosperity depends on how well we secure the data driving it. Protecting information means protecting opportunity – for citizens, businesses, and governments.
At DataGroupIT, we believe that a strong digital Africa is a secure digital Africa. Through our Data Security and Cloud Security frameworks, we help enterprises protect their most valuable asset (their data), while enabling innovation and growth with confidence. It’s time to keep the “new gold” where it belongs: in Africa, powering Africa.