By Zaheer Ebrahim, options architect for Pattern Micro Center East and Africa
Legacy expertise has lengthy been the spine of many organisations in South Africa. Nonetheless, it additionally serves as a ticking time bomb for safety dangers if not addressed correctly. As we method the top of help for Home windows 10 on October 14, 2025, companies are confronted with a essential resolution: put money into the price of a brand new working system or threat leaving their present techniques uncovered to potential cyber threats. This conundrum is not only a technical dilemma, however a strategic enterprise problem that requires considerate consideration and proactive planning.
Upgrading to the most recent working system isn’t any small feat, particularly after we’re speaking about 1000’s of machines needing updates all of sudden. It’s an costly and complicated activity. And because it stands, numerous CEOs in Sub-Saharan Africa have highlighted rising prices as a serious hurdle, spotlighting this as a problem that provides layers of complexity to an already troublesome working setting.
Including to the dilemma, many companies within the area are working on outdated servers. Whereas the legacy purposes operating on these servers can certainly be upgraded, doing so usually dangers inflicting server shutdowns and disruptive downtime. Naturally, this presents one other main problem, main many organisations to stay with the acquainted, guided by the outdated adage, “if it ain’t broke, don’t repair it.”
Unpatched techniques are simple targets
The fact is that cyber threats loom bigger than ever over Sub-Saharan Africa. Fast technological developments and the more and more subtle nature of cyberattacks make it difficult for a lot of companies to remain forward. Consequently, we’re seeing a major variety of cyber incidents occurring due to unpatched vulnerabilities, which depart organisations uncovered to breaches.
Cybercriminals are all the time looking out for simple targets, and unpatched vulnerabilities akin to end-of-support (EOS) techniques current a main alternative. As soon as these techniques cease receiving safety patches, they change into low-hanging fruit for hackers. The truth is, it’s not unusual for cybercriminals to carry onto sure exploits till after the EOS date, figuring out that these techniques will now not be fortified by new safety updates.
That’s why it’s important for companies to prioritise patching their legacy techniques to keep up strong safety. This entails adhering to fundamental safety hygiene practices, akin to appropriately deploying insurance policies, guaranteeing safety software program updates are constantly utilized throughout your complete IT setting, and preserving person schooling present. By doing so, firms can higher defend themselves in opposition to rising cyber threats.
Even in opposition to a backdrop of rising price pressures, there are efficient measures that tech leaders can discover.
Implement mitigating controls
One of many proactive steps companies can take entails deploying options that act as a protecting defend for purposes. Consider an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) as a safety barrier designed to forestall vulnerabilities from being exploited. Even should you lack the monetary assets, manpower, or instant readiness to patch these machines or servers, an IPS can present an important layer of protection. It successfully sits in entrance of your purposes and servers, providing a essential layer of safety by safeguarding in opposition to potential vulnerabilities.
Perceive methods to prioritise threats
Making the shift from guesswork to knowledgeable decision-making can even assist rework the general administration of cybersecurity inside the organisation. By using superior AI-driven instruments that consider and rank safety points, companies can higher perceive the potential impression on their operations. This method ensures that essentially the most essential dangers are addressed first, enabling a extra strategic and efficient protection in opposition to cyber threats.
The truth is, companies can empower themselves to maneuver past reactive safety measures by intelligently prioritising threats. As a substitute of relying solely on fundamental frequent vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) scores, this method identifies and addresses the safety vulnerabilities that pose the best threat to the enterprise. By offering clear, threat-priority steerage, it highlights which safety points want instant consideration based mostly on their potential impression. This complete evaluation of risk severity, chance of exploitation, and potential enterprise repercussions permits organisations to pay attention their efforts on essentially the most essential safety dangers first.
Taking a complacent method in direction of patching legacy software program may be perilous. The dangers of unpatched vulnerabilities far outweigh the perceived financial savings from delaying updates. Even in a troublesome financial local weather, companies can implement cost-effective measures like Intrusion Prevention Techniques (IPS) and AI-driven risk prioritisation. These proactive steps not solely present strong safety but additionally assist keep away from the exorbitant prices related to information breaches. In essence, investing in cybersecurity as we speak is not only a defensive transfer—it’s a strategic initiative that safeguards the way forward for your online business.
By Zaheer Ebrahim, options architect for Pattern Micro Center East and Africa
Legacy expertise has lengthy been the spine of many organisations in South Africa. Nonetheless, it additionally serves as a ticking time bomb for safety dangers if not addressed correctly. As we method the top of help for Home windows 10 on October 14, 2025, companies are confronted with a essential resolution: put money into the price of a brand new working system or threat leaving their present techniques uncovered to potential cyber threats. This conundrum is not only a technical dilemma, however a strategic enterprise problem that requires considerate consideration and proactive planning.
Upgrading to the most recent working system isn’t any small feat, particularly after we’re speaking about 1000’s of machines needing updates all of sudden. It’s an costly and complicated activity. And because it stands, numerous CEOs in Sub-Saharan Africa have highlighted rising prices as a serious hurdle, spotlighting this as a problem that provides layers of complexity to an already troublesome working setting.
Including to the dilemma, many companies within the area are working on outdated servers. Whereas the legacy purposes operating on these servers can certainly be upgraded, doing so usually dangers inflicting server shutdowns and disruptive downtime. Naturally, this presents one other main problem, main many organisations to stay with the acquainted, guided by the outdated adage, “if it ain’t broke, don’t repair it.”
Unpatched techniques are simple targets
The fact is that cyber threats loom bigger than ever over Sub-Saharan Africa. Fast technological developments and the more and more subtle nature of cyberattacks make it difficult for a lot of companies to remain forward. Consequently, we’re seeing a major variety of cyber incidents occurring due to unpatched vulnerabilities, which depart organisations uncovered to breaches.
Cybercriminals are all the time looking out for simple targets, and unpatched vulnerabilities akin to end-of-support (EOS) techniques current a main alternative. As soon as these techniques cease receiving safety patches, they change into low-hanging fruit for hackers. The truth is, it’s not unusual for cybercriminals to carry onto sure exploits till after the EOS date, figuring out that these techniques will now not be fortified by new safety updates.
That’s why it’s important for companies to prioritise patching their legacy techniques to keep up strong safety. This entails adhering to fundamental safety hygiene practices, akin to appropriately deploying insurance policies, guaranteeing safety software program updates are constantly utilized throughout your complete IT setting, and preserving person schooling present. By doing so, firms can higher defend themselves in opposition to rising cyber threats.
Even in opposition to a backdrop of rising price pressures, there are efficient measures that tech leaders can discover.
Implement mitigating controls
One of many proactive steps companies can take entails deploying options that act as a protecting defend for purposes. Consider an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) as a safety barrier designed to forestall vulnerabilities from being exploited. Even should you lack the monetary assets, manpower, or instant readiness to patch these machines or servers, an IPS can present an important layer of protection. It successfully sits in entrance of your purposes and servers, providing a essential layer of safety by safeguarding in opposition to potential vulnerabilities.
Perceive methods to prioritise threats
Making the shift from guesswork to knowledgeable decision-making can even assist rework the general administration of cybersecurity inside the organisation. By using superior AI-driven instruments that consider and rank safety points, companies can higher perceive the potential impression on their operations. This method ensures that essentially the most essential dangers are addressed first, enabling a extra strategic and efficient protection in opposition to cyber threats.
The truth is, companies can empower themselves to maneuver past reactive safety measures by intelligently prioritising threats. As a substitute of relying solely on fundamental frequent vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) scores, this method identifies and addresses the safety vulnerabilities that pose the best threat to the enterprise. By offering clear, threat-priority steerage, it highlights which safety points want instant consideration based mostly on their potential impression. This complete evaluation of risk severity, chance of exploitation, and potential enterprise repercussions permits organisations to pay attention their efforts on essentially the most essential safety dangers first.
Taking a complacent method in direction of patching legacy software program may be perilous. The dangers of unpatched vulnerabilities far outweigh the perceived financial savings from delaying updates. Even in a troublesome financial local weather, companies can implement cost-effective measures like Intrusion Prevention Techniques (IPS) and AI-driven risk prioritisation. These proactive steps not solely present strong safety but additionally assist keep away from the exorbitant prices related to information breaches. In essence, investing in cybersecurity as we speak is not only a defensive transfer—it’s a strategic initiative that safeguards the way forward for your online business.
