07 April 2026•
Interactive intrusions are not hitting all industries equally. The data in the chart above shows a clear concentration in sectors that manage large volumes of sensitive data or critical operations—and this trend is particularly relevant for the Middle East and Africa.
In the Middle East, financial services and energy-linked technologies are especially exposed. As the region continues to position itself as a global financial and logistics hub, attackers are targeting banks, payment systems, and digital platforms using stealthy, credential-based methods. The reliance on interconnected systems across borders only increases vulnerability.
Across Africa, fintech stands out as a major risk area. With rapid growth in mobile money and digital banking, platforms are scaling faster than their security frameworks. Interactive intrusions allow attackers to quietly exploit these systems. They can access accounts, manipulate transactions, or harvest data without raising immediate red flags.
Read our Special Report on The Future of Fintech in Africa here!
Telecommunications (9%) and government entities (7%) also feature prominently. In both regions, these sectors are critical to national infrastructure, making them attractive for espionage and disruption. Meanwhile, healthcare and academia, though smaller targets globally, are increasingly at risk as they digitize sensitive records.
The conclusion is clear: attackers are going where the data and access are. For the Middle East and Africa, strengthening identity security, monitoring user behavior, and reducing reliance on signature-based defenses will be critical to staying ahead of this evolving threat.
We are a team of passionate Researchers, Data Junkies, and Story-Tellers that believe there is not enough quality business insights and compelling data analysis available in the marketplace, told in the formats users want. We want to give an insider's look into the industries, businesses and economies that are changing the world today, so our users can become inspired, empowered and equipped to run their businesses as best they can.
Register for our free weekly newsletter
Stay up to date with the latest news, special reports, videos, infobytes, and features on the region's most notable entrepreneurial ecosystems