Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 Regional Analysis Sub-Saharan Africa FEBRUARY 2026 Introduction Cybersecurity risk in 2026 is accelerating, fuelled by advances in AI, deepening geopolitical fragmentation and the complexity of supply chains. This analysis builds on the Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 (GCO 2026) to examine how these global trends are playing out in sub-Saharan Africa, providing a focused view of the region’s evolving cybersecurity landscape.1 Key takeaways on sub-Saharan Africa –76% of organizations in sub-Saharan Africa already implemented AI enabled tools to fulfil their cybersecurity objectives (globally 77%). –71% of businesses in this region reported adjusting their cybersecurity strategy due to geopolitical volatility (globally 66%). –37% of organisations in sub-Saharan Africa express confidence in their country’s ability to respond to a major cyber incident affecting critical infrastructure, while 39% explicitly state they are not confident (31% globally). –84% of respondents in the region reported an increase in cyber-enabled fraud and phishing attacks in the past year (globally 77%). –63% of respondents based in sub-Saharan Africa reported their organizations is lacking the talent and skills required to meet their current cybersecurity objectives (globally 50%). –8% of organizations in sub-Saharan Africa rate their cyber resilience as exceeding requirements (globally 19%), while around 32% assess it to be insufficient (globally 17%).AI Security AI risk perception –According to the GCO 2026 survey, 87% of organizations in the region believe AI and machine learning will have the greatest impact on cybersecurity in the next 12 months (globally 94%) and 82% report that AI-related risks have increased (globally 87%). –Data leaks are considered the most pressing cybersecurity issue linked to generative AI in this region, cited by 45% of respondents (globally 34%). –This heightened concern is not unique to sub-Saharan Africa, but the region faces additional challenges. According to the GCO 2026 survey, 45% of organizations report not having processes in place to assess the security of AI tools before deployment, compared to 29% globally. AI for security –Organizations in sub-Saharan Africa are actively adopting AI-enabled tools to strengthen their cybersecurity posture. Survey data indicates that 76% have already implemented such solutions – signalling strong momentum towards AI- driven security (globally 77%). Has your organization implemented any AI-enabled tools to fulfil its cybersecurity objectives? –Despite this progress, 62% of organizations cite insufficient skills as a key hurdle, while 56% point to insufficient funds as a major barrier to embracing AI for cybersecurity. 1. The number of respondents from this region in the GCO 2026 survey is lower than in other regions. As a result, the findings may have reduced statistical robustness and should be interpreted with due caution.Yes No76% 24%