As businesses across East Africa accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) to boost efficiency and innovation, experts from NTT DATA and Cisco are raising concern over a growing gap in cybersecurity preparedness.
Speaking at a high-level industry roundtable in Nairobi, Brian Kiplagat, Head of Cybersecurity at NTT DATA East Africa, noted that while AI offers powerful new capabilities, it is also introducing novel and rapidly evolving threats. “We’re seeing a surge in cyberattacks where AI is used to identify and exploit vulnerabilities at unprecedented speed. Many organisations have strong on-premise controls but struggle with visibility and governance in cloud and remote work environments. This exposes critical gaps that attackers are increasingly targeting,” said Kiplagat.
The roundtable, co-hosted by NTT DATA and Cisco, brought together regional technology and business leaders to examine the dual challenge of leveraging AI for growth while mitigating emerging cyber risks.
Mr Kelvin Mugambi, Technical Solutions Architect at Cisco for Sub-Saharan Africa, echoed these concerns, warning that AI is now being used by malicious actors to launch more sophisticated attacks. “AI enables incredible opportunities, but it’s also changing the threat landscape. We’re dealing with malware generated by AI, deepfake scams, and autonomous systems that can be hijacked,” Mugambi explained. “This calls for a radical shift in how we protect digital infrastructure. We must secure systems that can think and act — not just react.”
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Citing findings from Cisco’s latest global cybersecurity report, Mugambi revealed that only 4% of organisations worldwide are considered mature in cybersecurity readiness, while 86% experienced AI-related security incidents in the past year. Both experts emphasized that cybersecurity and AI strategies must evolve hand in hand — and that East African enterprises cannot afford to delay action.
They also highlighted the regional shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals and reiterated a joint commitment to capacity building, innovation, and partnerships to help organisations prepare for the AI-powered future.
Andrew Ngunjiri, General Manager – Solutions at NTT DATA East Africa, emphasized that businesses should look beyond the AI hype and focus on delivering real value. “Today’s discussion wasn’t about buzzwords—it was about what works. “Together with Cisco, we explored how East African organisations can implement AI responsibly to improve customer experience, accelerate decision-making, and drive business outcomes,” said Ngunjiri.
He referenced insights from the 2024 NTT DATA Global GenAI Report, which found that “high-performing” companies—those that have integrated AI into more than 50% of their operations—are seeing stronger profitability, improved customer and employee satisfaction, and enhanced competitiveness.
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Ngunjiri pointed to sectors like manufacturing, where AI is already delivering results globally through smarter R&D and faster product iteration based on customer feedback. “We see a huge opportunity for similar impact here in East Africa,” he said. “At NTT DATA, we support our clients across the full AI journey—from strategy and ROI evaluation to infrastructure, upskilling, and compliance,” he added. “We help build responsible, secure AI frameworks that align with long-term sustainability and ESG goals.”
In closing, Ngunjiri urged businesses to adopt a balanced and experimental approach: “Start small. Define your objectives. Build from there. AI’s potential is massive, but success depends on clarity of vision and a strong cybersecurity foundation.” As AI adoption accelerates, NTT DATA and Cisco reaffirmed their dedication to empowering East African enterprises to build smarter, safer, and more resilient digital futures.
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