Building a brand in cybersecurity—especially with technology that isn’t yet a household name—takes more than just belief in the products. It takes patience, purpose, and a real understanding of the market you’re speaking to.
At Cyberwin, we’ve chosen to back solutions that may be new to South Africa but are already delivering results globally. And while that journey hasn’t been without its challenges, it’s also shown us just how much potential there is when you lead with education, open conversation, and a partner-first mindset.
I wrote this to share what we’ve learned so far: about the gaps in awareness, the opportunities we’re seeing, and why staying curious—and committed—can make all the difference. Because honestly? You don’t know what you don’t know. And that’s exactly where the work begins.
Breaking Ground with Purpose
When we launched Cyberwin, it wasn’t just about entering the cybersecurity space—it was about doing things differently and doing them with intent.
As South African businesses faced increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, we noticed a gap—many available solutions felt outdated, complex, and costly. That’s why we backed high-impact technologies that have proven themselves internationally but are still gaining traction here at home.
Has it been easy? No.
Has it been worth it? Absolutely.
More organisations are starting to look beyond the usual names and are open to genuine innovation—especially when it’s backed by insight, transparency, and actual results.
The Local Landscape Is Changing—Fast
South Africa’s cybersecurity environment is evolving quickly. Remote work, cloud adoption, and digitisation have all accelerated in recent years, but in many cases, awareness hasn’t kept pace.
Here’s a snapshot of what we’re dealing with:
Nearly 3 out of 4 South African companies still lack basic cybersecurity awareness
47% reported at least one cyber incident in the past year
88% admitted to experiencing a breach—and most were hit more than once
69% faced ransomware attacks in 2024
South Africa now accounts for 40% of ransomware activityon the continent
These aren’t just numbers. They represent the very real pressure—and urgency—that local businesses face every day.
Why Boutique Distribution Made Sense
We didn’t want to be just another name in the channel. At Cyberwin, we chose a boutique model for a few important reasons:
We can move faster, bringing in emerging, proven technologies that tackle real threats head-on.
There’s a major skills gap in SA. Businesses need more than just tools; they need support, clarity, and a proper partnership.
Cybercrime is costing the local economy more than R2.2 billion each year—the stakes are too high for a slow or generic response.
Our role is to help organisations cut through the noise and find solutions that work. No jargon, no over-promising—just relevant tools, trusted advice, and measurable outcomes.
And if there’s one thing we’ve learned—it’s that this industry can’t run on products alone. Trust and understanding matter.
And honestly? It’s working. The more we engage, the more we see that shift in mindset. People are asking smarter questions, looking for better answers, and expecting more from their cybersecurity investments. That’s exactly the kind of change we hoped to be part of.
Looking Ahead
We’re just getting started.
Cybersecurity isn’t static—it keeps evolving, and so do we. At Cyberwin, we’re committed to:
Championing innovation that makes practical sense
Keeping security education at the heart of what we do
Building partnerships that are built to last—not just to transact
To everyone who’s been on this journey with us—thank you. And to those navigating the cybersecurity landscape and looking for something a little fresher, a little more intentional—we’re here for that conversation.
References
https://www.csir.co.za/csir-issues-national-survey-results-on-state-cybersecurity-south-africa
Hi, this is a comment.
To get started with moderating, editing, and deleting comments, please visit the Comments screen in the dashboard.
Commenter avatars come from Gravatar.