Check Point Software Technologies has released eight critical trends shaping Africa’s digital turning point in 2026, noting that their implementation will require the government, the private sector, and key civic institutions to cooperate.

Fraud has shifted. It is no longer just about financial theft; it is about identity theft in the most visceral sense. The most effective control is often completely non-technical: the ‘pause and verify’ rule.

Africa has seen an accelerated, large-scale digitisation of our overall industrial base, and this rapid convergence of IT and OT is happening on a foundation that, in essence, was not designed to be cybersecure.

FM teams are responsible for the overall operational environment of a building, while security teams focus on protection, control, and incident response. Increasingly, both rely on the same data streams, infrastructure, and digital tools.

As we enter 2026, the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and IoT infrastructure is reshaping industries, unlocking unprecedented opportunities to optimise operations, enhance security, and improve sustainability.

For South Africans who want to stay here and build a better country for our kids, grandkids, friends, and others, the Internet of Things gets us really excited because it enables ‘edge processing’.

Cloud-native applications have transformed the way businesses operate, enabling faster innovation, greater agility, and enhanced scalability. Yet this evolution brings an equally complex security landscape.

SMART Security Solutions spoke with Check Point's Hendrik de Bruin about the report, the risks African organisations face, and some mitigation measures.