NTT DATA & Cisco raise concerns over a growing cybersecurity gap as businesses in East Africa adopt artificial intelligence (AI), to boost efficiency & innovation.
Brian Kiplagat of NTT DATA East Africa’s Head of Cybersecurity, Brian Kiplagat said that AI is a powerful tool, but it also introduces new and rapidly evolving threats.
“We are seeing an increase in cyberattacks, where AI is being used to identify and exploit weaknesses at unprecedented speeds. Many organisations have strong controls on-premise but struggle with visibility, governance and remote work environments. This exposes critical holes that attackers are increasingly aiming at,” Said Kiplagat.
The roundtable was co-hosted jointly by NTT DATA & Cisco and brought together regional technology leaders and business leaders. They examined the dual challenge of leveraging AI to grow while mitigating cyber risks.
Kelvin Mugambi is a Technical Solutions Architect for Cisco Sub-Saharan Africa. He echoed the concerns of these individuals, warning that malicious actors are now using AI to launch more sophisticated attacks.
“AI creates incredible opportunities, but also changes the threat landscape.” Mugambi explained that we’re dealing AI-generated malware, deepfake schemes, and autonomous systems which can be hijacked. “This requires a radical change in the way we protect digital infrastructure.” We must secure systems which can think and act, not just react.
Mugambi cited findings from Cisco’s latest global cyber-security report. He revealed that only 4% organisations worldwide are considered to be mature in their cybersecurity readiness. Meanwhile, 86% of them experienced AI-related incidents in the last year.
Both experts stressed that cybersecurity and AI must evolve together — and that East African businesses cannot afford to delay taking action.
They also highlighted the shortage of cybersecurity professionals in the region and reiterated their commitment to capacity-building, innovation, and partnership to help organisations prepare themselves for an AI-powered future.
Andrew Ngunjiri – General Manager – Solutions at NTT DATA East Africa – stressed that businesses should look past the AI hype and focus their efforts on delivering value.
“Today’s conversation wasn’t about buzzwords, but about what works. “Together, with Cisco, we explored ways East African organisations could implement AI responsibly in order to improve customer experience and accelerate decision-making. This will drive business outcomes,” Ngunjiri said.
He cited insights from the NTT DATA Global GenAI Report 2024, which found that companies that have integrated AI in more than 50% of operations are seeing improved profitability, customer and employee satisfaction and enhanced competitiveness.
Ngunjiri cited sectors such as manufacturing, where AI has already delivered results globally. This is through smarter R&D, and faster product iterations based on feedback from customers. “We see an enormous opportunity for a similar impact here in East Africa,” Said Ngunjiri.
“At NTT DATA we support our customers across the entire AI journey – from strategy and ROI evaluation to upskilling and compliance,” he said. “We help build secure, responsible AI frameworks that align to long-term sustainability goals and ESG.”
Ngunjiri concluded by urging businesses to adopt an experimental and balanced approach: “Start Small.” Define your goals. Start with your objectives. AI’s potential for success is huge, but it depends on a clear vision and a solid cybersecurity foundation.”
NTT DATA, Cisco and other companies have reaffirmed that they are committed to empowering East African businesses to build a smarter, safer and more resilient digital future.
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