In a landmark move for Africa’s digital security landscape, Virtual Infosec Africa (VIA) and global cybersecurity firm LogRhythm (now Exabeam) have launched the continent’s first monthly subscription-based Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) service.
The initiative is set to transform how Ghanaian businesses, government agencies, and utilities protect their digital infrastructure—making enterprise-grade cybersecurity both accessible and affordable. The timing couldn’t be more urgent.
In the first quarter of 2025, Africa recorded the highest average number of cyberattacks per organisation globally, with 3,286 attacks per week, according to Check Point Software Technologies.
In Ghana and other parts of the continent, cyberattacks have increasingly targeted critical sectors, including energy, finance, telecommunications, and public services.
Nearly one in five successful breaches resulted in the disruption of core business operations, the INTERPOL African Cyberthreat Assessment said in its 2024 report.
For many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the cost of deploying robust cybersecurity systems has been prohibitive.
VIA’s solution
The Chief Executive Officer of VIA, Mr Emmanuel Asiedu Sekyere, said the company and Exabeam’s subscription model directly addresses this challenge. He said the novel initiative allows organisations to pay monthly, spread costs over time, and immediately benefit from AI-driven threat detection, monitoring, and compliance tools.
Mr. Emmanuel Asiedu Sekyere, Founder and CEO, VIA
“We see this as a breakthrough for SMEs in Ghana,” the founder of VIA, a wholly-owned Ghanaian firm, said.
“They’ve long been exposed to threats without the means to defend themselves. Now, they can access the same technology used by global corporations—without the financial strain.”
The service is hosted at VIA’s managed security site at the National Information Technologies Agency (NITA) in Accra and powered by Exabeam’s next-generation platform, which uses artificial intelligence to detect and respond to threats in real time.
It is tailored to local industry needs and comes with pre-financing options to ease adoption.
Impact on national security
Beyond SMEs, the initiative has significant implications for national cybersecurity.
As Ghana continues to digitize public services and expand its digital economy, the resilience of its cyber infrastructure becomes a matter of national interest.
Affordable access to advanced cybersecurity tools could help prevent large-scale disruptions, data breaches, and financial losses.
“This isn’t just a business solution—it’s a national safeguard,” Mr. Asiedu said. “We’re helping build a digitally secure Ghana, one subscription at a time,” he added.
He explained that the model also supports long-term business sustainability.
The CEO of VIA said that by reducing the risk of cyber incidents, companies can protect customer trust, maintain operational continuity, and avoid costly recovery efforts.
“For startups and growing enterprises, this could mean the difference between survival and collapse in the face of a cyberattack,” Mr. Asiedu said.
He noted that as Ghanaian organisations increasingly embrace digital transformation, VIA and Exabeam’s subscription service offered a timely and practical solution to one of the most pressing challenges of the digital age.
“Cybercriminals don’t wait, and now, Ghana doesn’t have to either,” he added.