The need for proactive, layered cyber defence strategies

 

By SYNAQ | www.synaq.com

Cyberattack Analysis: National Treasury & SABC – Lessons in Resilience

The recent cyberattack on South Africa’s National Treasury, along the attacks on the SABC, serve as critical warnings of the vulnerabilities within our national digital infrastructure. These incidents emphasise the need for proactive, layered cyber defence strategies—particularly where email remains the primary attack vector.

What Happened?

National Treasury Breach (January 2025)

State-sponsored Chinese threat actors (Linen Typhoon, Violet Typhoon, Storm-2603) exploited a zero-day Microsoft SharePoint vulnerability, impacting approximately 400 organisations globally. Malware was discovered on the Treasury’s Infrastructure Reporting Model (IRM) site.

Despite its robust security—blocking an average of 5,800 daily threats and handling 200,000+ emails—the Treasury breach proved that no system is impenetrable. Rapid isolation protocols helped minimise the fallout, but the attack underscores the sophistication and persistence of modern threat actors.

SABC Cyberattack (July 2025)

In July 2025, the SABC confirmed it had suffered a major cyberattack that compromised its internal systems and email servers. As a result, operations were disrupted, internal communication was affected, and staff were warned not to access their email. This incident underscores the fragility of national broadcasters’ digital infrastructure and the far-reaching impact of compromised email systems - particularly when they serve as the foundation for organisational communication and public service delivery.

The Reality of South Africa’s Threat Landscape

• 27th most breached country globally
• Cybercrime costs South Africa R2.2 billion annually
• Over 90% of business breaches start with malicious email
• 96% of phishing attempts enter through email channels

SYNAQ’s Cybersecurity Perspective & Proven Defence Strategy

SYNAQ has spent over two decades protecting South Africa’s largest brands, with products like SecureMail Premium – A Purpose-Built Email Defence Platform.

SYNAQ’s SecureMail is designed to address precisely the kinds of vulnerabilities exposed in these breaches:

• AI-Powered Threat Intelligence: Continuously evolving heuristics and machine learning identify patterns behind attacks like the Treasury breach.
• Identity Threat Protection (ITP): Actively blocks Business Email Compromise (BEC) and impersonation attacks.
• LinkShield Technology: Real-time link analysis to prevent malicious redirects.
• Data Leak Prevention (DLP): Monitors outbound traffic to stop sensitive data from leaving your organisation.
• Security Centre: Centralised command dashboard offering real-time visibility and control.
• Rapid, DNS-Based Deployment: Protection within 24 hours—no complex infrastructure rollouts.
• Local Expertise: Built for the South African threat landscape, backed by 24/7 local support.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The National Treasury and SABC incidents illustrate that South African organisations face persistent, sophisticated threats from multiple actor types. These attacks will continue evolving in complexity and scale. Organisations must move beyond reactive measures to comprehensive, proactive cybersecurity platforms.

SYNAQ's proven track record—protecting major South African brands for two decades while delivering industry-leading email security with unique SLA guarantees—positions us as the ideal partner for building robust cyber resilience. With cybercrime costing South Africa R2.2 billion annually and individual breaches averaging R49.45 million, investment in comprehensive cybersecurity isn't optional— it's essential for organisational survival.

SYNAQ's innovative solutions transform cybersecurity posture from reactive vulnerability to proactive resilience, ensuring business continuity in an increasingly hostile digital environment.