By: Mathias Hangala
As the world adopts artificial intelligence (AI), the World Economic Forum (WEF) places emphasis on countries moving towards building resilience against cyber threats in the AI era.
In its recent 2026 Global Cybersecurity Outlook, the Forum reported that 87% of surveyed organisations believe the risks associated with AI-related vulnerabilities have increased. To that, the WEF provided guidance on countering AI-driven cybercrime while also highlighting the technology’s potential to automate and strengthen cybersecurity defences.
According to the report, AI has fundamentally transformed the cyber threat landscape and traditional defences are no longer sufficient. Building resilience now requires securing AI foundations first and then scaling AI-driven defence capabilities.
The Forum further noted that when deployed responsibly, AI can enable proactive, future-ready cybersecurity. No longer just a productivity booster, AI is now reshaping the cybersecurity battlefield. As AI-related cyberattacks are surging, autonomous AI systems can execute attacks with speed and precision that surpass traditional human-led defences.
Experts warn that AI systems could continuously scan corporate networks for vulnerabilities and automatically deploy customised malware within minutes of detection, outpacing any manual intervention.
“This level of automation and adaptability illustrates how AI-enabled attacks can operate, emphasising the urgency for organisations to rethink their defensive strategies,” the report stated. The WEF stresses that resilience requires more than incremental improvements, stating that organisations and governments must deploy security strategies that anticipate threats, neutralise them before they materialise, and evolve as quickly as adversaries.
For this reason, the Forum recommends a fundamental shift in cybersecurity strategy moving away from the pursuit of perfect prevention.
“Organisations must accept that disruption is constant and that resilience defined as the ability to absorb, adapt, and quickly recover from incidents is paramount, with significant implications,” read the Outlook.
The WEF further notes that alongside an expanding attack surface, regulatory scrutiny is intensifying. AI governance compliance is increasingly becoming an audit necessity. Additionally, global geopolitical tensions and complex supply chains are amplifying organisational vulnerabilities.
“Even smaller organisations can begin this journey by identifying AI agents and defining their permissions, laying the foundation for future transformation and long-term resilience,” added the Forum.
This shift moves cybersecurity from reactive defence to proactive anticipation, and identifying and neutralising threats before they materialise and strengthening defences before damage occurs.
Meanwhile, the Global Journal of Engineering and Technology Advances reports that Namibia continues to face cybersecurity challenges. In 2017 and 2018, the Global Cybersecurity Index ranked Namibia 151 out of 165 countries globally and 35 out of 42 in Africa, citing low commitment to cybersecurity measures and awareness.
To add to this, the country has also witnessed a surge in cyberattacks. According to Xinhua (2022), malware targeting banks once led to Namibia ranking third globally in such attacks.
Recognising these risks, Namibia launched the Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team (NAM-CSIRT) last year. At its launch, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) Board Chairperson, Tulimevava Mufeti, reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to advancing Namibia’s cyber resilience and safeguarding the nation’s digital infrastructure from increasingly complex cyber threats.
It was reported that government had injected N$20 million as seed funding to support the establishment and operationalisation of NAM-CSIRT. The funding is expected to go towards infrastructure development, skilled personnel recruitment, and the acquisition of technological tools necessary for effective operations.
