Cybersecurity threats rise for SMBs in META region

Cybersecurity threats are increasingly impacting small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa (META) region. Research indicates that 82% of SMBs in these areas encountered at least one cybersecurity incident over the past year. Globally, the risk is particularly high for companies with 100 to 499 employees, where only 14% reported avoiding an incident.

In Türkiye, 43% of businesses in the 100-499 employee bracket experienced security events, with the exploitation of software vulnerabilities being the most common threat at 20%. Other significant threats in the region include deepfakes, phishing, and the use of stolen credentials.

Across Africa, there has been a notable rise in sophisticated malware. Password-stealing malware detections increased by 51%, backdoor detections rose by 23%, and spyware increased by 16%. Experts note that as businesses deepen their reliance on cloud platforms, remote access, and artificial intelligence, their exposure to cybercrime expands, making cybersecurity a critical board-level priority for business continuity.