Category: Uncategorized

Backup & Recovery: The Real Hero of 2025

As 2025 comes to a close, the cybersecurity focus is still on escalating threats. But in reality, a great story of resilience has been unfolding behind the scenes. 

While attacks grew more aggressive this year, backup and recovery systems proved to be the line that stood firm when other defences fell – even as traditional backup struggled to keep up. 

In 2025, ransomware delivered serious disruptions to organisations on every continent. The domestic market was no exception.

  • According to the latest Sophos State of Ransomware in South Africa 2025 report, the average cost to recover from an attack is now a staggering R24 million. 
  • Many companies turned to ransom payments and fewer than ever leaned on backups: backup-based recovery dropped from 72 % in 2024 to just 35 % in 2025.

While companies fail to make use of traditional backup, attackers have refined their approach: in many ransomware attacks, backup storage itself has been directly targeted. 

In light of this, experts have warned that traditional backup strategies may be less effective against a rapidly evolving breed of cyberattacks.

Secure Cloud Storage as a Business Tool

Organisations that invested in advanced backup and disaster recovery infrastructure gained a clear competitive advantage this year. 

Backup is no longer just a contingency. It has become the key difference between business continuity and prolonged downtime in the face of a cyberattack. 

As shown in the Sophos report and numerous global surveys, many businesses demand backup systems that are immutable, air-gapped, and automatically managed to reduce staffing costs. 

At Soteria Cloud, our mission throughout 2025 was built around the paradigm of data resiliency that goes beyond prevention.

We refined our Acronis-powered backup and disaster-recovery services to meet the demands of modern cyber resilience, delivering: 

  • Reliable, fast recovery for hybrid and cloud workloads
  • Streamlined deployment and partner onboarding
  • Deeper analytics and visibility
  • Integrated protection combining AI-driven threat detection with traditional defence layers.

Recovery is a Top Priority for 2026

When prevention isn’t enough, the ability to restore data becomes the decisive factor in recovery. 

With proper backup architecture, recovery automation, and regular testing, organisations can restore operations quickly, often before disruption becomes business critical.

As we move into 2026, we plan to offer even better automation, more intelligent threat detection, and expanded cybersecurity tools. In a world of evolving attacks and growing data volume, resilience is not optional. That’s why at Soteria Cloud, backup and recovery isn’t a fallback but rather the backbone of true protection.

Enhance Your Office Data Security With Us

Users who rely on Microsoft Office for all their productivity needs may think that their set of apps complies with the best cybersecurity practices, but there’s always a loophole in every system – and cybercriminals won’t rest until they find it. 

Unsecured access to your office documents could lead to disastrous consequences if they fall into the wrong hands. 

Our MS Office 365 Protection package keeps your data safe as you set your goals on big wins. Click the button below to learn more. 

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Cybersecurity Is Critical, Not an Add-On

In today’s connected world, cybersecurity is not a technical extra but rather a business essential. 

Every system, process, and transaction relies on digital trust, and maintaining that trust demands more than compliance checklists.

The updated NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 recognises this by elevating Govern to stand alongside Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. Together, these disciplines form a continuous cycle of protection that drives operational resilience and not just defence.

At Soteria, we believe this shift marks a decisive step forward: from reactive security to proactive governance.

Here’s a closer look at each of the elements in this crucial strategy. 

Govern: Setting the Compass For Safe Online Navigation 

Effective governance is about leadership, and cybersecurity is no exception. Boards and executives who take ownership of cyber risk and align it with strategic goals will enjoy better online security both today and in the future as threats evolve.

Governance should include accountability, risk tolerance, and measurable outcomes, ensuring cybersecurity is treated as a performance metric and not a back-office cost. To achieve this, there needs to be direct and strategic communication between the IT department and top management to establish common goals.

When leadership sets the tone, cybersecurity becomes an enabler of trust and continuity both within the company and between customers and business representatives. 

Identify: Knowing What You’re Protecting 

True protection starts with visibility, but many business owners aren’t clear on what threats to look out for. 

  • Modern digital ecosystems include a growing web of cloud platforms, APIs, and machine identities that shift daily. 
  • Continuous discovery and classification allow organisations to prioritise the assets and data that underpin business operations. 
  • Regular and automated backups across all the apps and platforms used by the business are an effective way of achieving this.

Without clarity and defined parameters, every cybersecurity control becomes guesswork. A small investment in setting up a comprehensive data security system could pay large dividends in years to come.

Protect: Building Resilience by Design

Protection should be seamless but powerful. Through zero-trust access, automated patching, and embedded code scanning, security can be set to integrate directly into workflows. 

At the same time, resilience engineering, from robust backups to graceful recovery, ensures continuity of data even in the worst case scenario of a cyberattack. 

This design-first mindset allows teams to innovate with confidence, knowing protection is built in and automated.

Detect: Turning Threat Signals into Speedy Recovery

In today’s high risk cybersecurity landscape, fraud detection comes down to speed and accuracy.

  • Behavioural analytics, AI-assisted monitoring, and orchestrated playbooks empower teams to act decisively when hackers strike.
  • Every second saved between detection and response reduces exposure and cost. Integrated response loops ensure that alerts become action and lessons learned drive stronger defences.

Comprehensive Cybersecurity Solutions for an Evolving Threat Landscape 

“Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect” is not only a framework but rather a blueprint for resilient online growth. Cybersecurity can no longer sit at the edge of operations. When built into governance, culture, and design, it becomes the backbone of business continuity.

As an Acronis Platinum Partner, Soteria Cloud unlocks the full potential of Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud to help organisations attain security that’s strategic, scalable, and always on. Click the button below to learn how we empower IT providers, MSPs and enterprises to remain compliant and resilient in today’s volatile digital landscape.

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WhatsApp Voice Message Awareness | App Security

WhatsApp Voice Notes: A Hidden Risk for Businesses

WhatsApp is the country’s chat app of choice, with approximately 28 million SA users trusting it to deliver their personal conversations and increasingly for business communications too.

Yet this widespread use masks an often overlooked threat: voice-note messaging. 

Cybercriminals are now weaponising WhatsApp voice notes and silent calls to harvest voice biometrics and execute sophisticated scams, placing businesses and individuals at elevated risk.

Don’t let cybercriminals clone your voice

Many South Africans remain unaware of how valuable their voices have become to cybercriminals. 

According to recent news reports, those strange silent calls (where you answer “hello, hello” and there’s no response) may be part of a scheme to capture your voice sample for later fraud. 

This follows on recent news about how voice cloning and deepfake audio are being used to impersonate individuals and commit extortion and other fraud.

One unwanted call could cascade into a nightmare scenario where you become the victim of an impersonation scam or find yourself implicated in criminal activities. 

The impact on businesses of all sizes 

There are several layers of impact for businesses where voice note and call scams are concerned.

  • WhatsApp is often used informally within organisations: for team coordination, quick approvals, and voice note instructions. 
  • The convenience and familiarity of receiving a voice note from a colleague or manager reduces the controls around communication and opens the door to fraud. 
  • Voice note content is encrypted end-to-end, which gives a false sense of security. Crucially, once a voice note leaves the sender’s phone it can be saved, shared, edited or used in new and illegal ways. 

Encryption doesn’t stop someone from re-recording or misusing your voice, and that has the potential to cause major financial and reputational damage. 

For businesses, the implications are serious 

Imagine a voice note from a manager asking a finance team member to expedite payment.

The instruction appears genuine, but the outcome is fraud or a data breach. Everything seems legitimate, but in reality the voice has been cloned or repurposed by an attacker. 

With voice-biometric theft and social engineering rising, organisations must treat WhatsApp as a full-business-risk vector, not just a communication tool.

How to protect your data 

To mitigate the threat of voice cloning, companies can take these steps:

  • Educate employees: raise awareness that voice notes are not risk-free and teach them to verify unexpected voice requests through secondary channels.
  • Define protocols:  no financial or system access request via voice note should be acted upon without written or face to face follow-up.
  • Restrict usage: for critical approvals, move away from informal voice notes to controlled, logged channels.
  • Monitor activity: maintain logs of WhatsApp-based communications if used for business, and treat voice note interactions with the same governance as email.
  • Protect identities: minimise oversharing of personal or voice-related data on public platforms which attackers can harvest to build voice-profiles.

Share files securely with full traceability  In the face of increasingly complex online threats, organisations of all types and sizes must bring the same rigour to their WhatsApp voice-note practice as they would to email, file-sharing or remote-access. 

Soteria’s File Sync and Share package is the ideal way to share sensitive files and messages. Each file carries a unique digital signature that will help you avoid fraudulent communications. Click the button below to learn more. 

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HR Blind Spots – Data Security

The Blind Spots in Data Security: Why HR Can’t be Overlooked

Human Resources departments serve a vital purpose, but they are increasingly emerging as blind spots in organisational data security. 

For many South African firms, the cybersecurity focus remains on firewalls, antivirus software, and endpoint defences. Yet the most vulnerable point is often HR: the place where personal data and human trust intersect.

HR impersonators go on a phishing spree 

That innocent seeming email from HR may be a major phishing attack in disguise. 

According to news reports, 42.5% of successful phishing clicks in South Africa used HR-related themes such as performance reviews or policy updates. 

Similarly, People Management UK recently reported that four in five data breaches involve HR files.

The reason for HR being targeted by cybercriminals is that it’s a goldmine of personal data.  

  • A typical HR department manages a wealth of personally identifiable information (PII) including ID numbers, payroll data, and banking details.
  • HR is also a natural communication hub, sending company-wide messages that can easily be mimicked by threat actors. 
  • As a result, cybercriminals frequently impersonate HR or executives to trick employees into revealing credentials or authorising fraudulent transactions.

The risk to HR data is compounded by hybrid work models, unsecured legacy systems, and limited cybersecurity awareness.

While just 10% of South African leaders were confident their teams would report suspicious emails, the vast majority were not. 

This underscores the human element in cybersecurity, serving as a reminder that technology alone can’t stop attacks that rely on human instinct.

How to secure your HR data 

To close the security gaps exposing HR to unique threats, businesses can implement the following policies:

  • Strengthen training and awareness: Regularly educate staff, especially those in HR, on phishing and social engineering tactics.
  • Implement access controls: Restrict HR data to authorised personnel and monitor for unusual access patterns.
  • Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA): Protect HR systems and cloud platforms from unauthorised entry.
  • Run incident simulations: Test readiness using realistic HR-themed phishing drills.
  • Integrate HR into cybersecurity planning: HR should be a partner, not a bystander, in data protection strategy.

Secure your company data with Soteria 

HR is no longer a back-office function. It’s a strategic front line in defending employee data and organisational trust. Strengthening this link between people and protection is essential to a truly resilient business.

Data Loss Prevention is our cutting-edge safety net for every valuable file on your network. Powered by Acronis, this package provides data protection over more than seventy online channels. Click the button below to learn more.

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BCP – Business Continuity Plan

The Importance of Having a Solid Business Continuity Plan

South African businesses are operating in an increasingly risky online environment, yet almost half of them still don’t have a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) in place.

In the age of rising cyberattacks and social engineering scams, the risk of downtime has never been greater.

Your business simply can’t operate without a comprehensive plan in place to rescue your operations in the wake of an online attack. Here’s what business owners need to know about business continuity. 

What is a BCP and what should it include?

A business continuity plan is more than a checklist for emergencies. It’s a structured roadmap that ensures critical operations can continue, even when normal conditions are disrupted. 

Whether you’re managing a manufacturing plant, retail chain, or financial services firm, a BCP identifies essential functions, assigns responsibilities, and sets out clear steps to recover quickly after an incident.

Cybersecurity now occupies a key position in continuity planning. 

  • Recent media reports suggest that South African businesses face an average of 2 113 cyberattacks per week, a 14% year-on-year increase. 
  • The fallout from these attacks can cripple operations, lock up data, and erode trust in a matter of hours.

For many businesses, efforts to prevent and recover from cyberattacks have been slowed down by infrastructure and skills gaps. A recent report notes that vulnerabilities in internal systems, combined with instability from hybrid work environments, leave many firms exposed to prolonged outages following a breach. 

Even more concerning is the fact that more than 60% of small businesses that suffer a cyberattack without having a BCP in place will close within six months.

For smaller companies, recovery often depends on whether data has been properly backed up and whether incident-response plans have been tested in advance. 

A strong BCP needs to integrate cybersecurity resilience from the ground up. This includes backup and recovery protocols, real-time threat monitoring, and regular testing. 

Given that only 5% of South African organisations are fully prepared to defend their data against today’s AI-driven cyberattacks, few businesses are likely to maintain continuity after a serious breach.

Beyond risk mitigation, continuity planning builds trust. Clients, partners, and regulators increasingly expect assurance that their data is protected and that your business can withstand disruption without exposing them to risk.

At Soteria, we place a big premium on the overall data defences of your business. That’s why we integrate Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud into every client’s BCP. Here are some of the benefits: 

  • Backup & Recovery: Keep your critical data safe with both local and cloud storage.
  • Disaster Recovery (DR): data failover to the cloud or Azure in just minutes.
  • Cybersecurity: Protect against ransomware, malware, and phishing before they cause major losses. 
  • Management & Monitoring: One console for backups, security, and DR helps simplify your continuity strategy.

By combining practical recovery strategies with robust cybersecurity measures, companies can safeguard operations, protect their reputation, and maintain confidence even when disruptions strike.

Create a comprehensive business continuity plan with secure cloud storage 

Don’t wait for a crisis to test your resilience. Create your business continuity plan today and make cybersecurity the foundation of it. Click the button below to learn more about Cyber Protect Cloud. 

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Black Friday 2025 – Cybersecurity

Black Friday 2025: Cybersecurity Strategies for Retail Success

On Friday 28 November, shoppers across South Africa will once again begin the hunt for pre-Christmas bargains.

For those who remember when Black Friday was just an American retail tradition, it’s been fascinating to see how quickly it’s become a cornerstone of South African consumer culture. What started as a marketing experiment has grown into one of the most anticipated, and chaotic, shopping events of the year.

From a business standpoint, Black Friday in South Afrrica now represents one of the most intense and profitable trading periods on the retail calendar. But with that opportunity comes significant risk. Cybercriminals are also preparing for the big day—looking for vulnerabilities to exploit while online and in-store systems are at their busiest.

Let’s explore the evolution of Black Friday in South Africa and the critical cybersecurity strategies retailers need to stay safe and successful.

Black Friday Drives 30% of Retail Spend in South Africa

While it hasn’t been around as long as Christmas or Valentine’s Day, Black Friday now accounts for around 30% of South Africa’s festive retail spend, according to Ecentric’s 2024 Black Friday Index.

That means consumers spend nearly a third of their holiday budgets over just one or two days in late November – a massive concentration of transactions that brings both opportunity and risk.

From a retail perspective:

  • Omnichannel strategies powered by real-time data and personalised offers are key to standing out.
  • Online promotions need to be compelling and secure, as shoppers increasingly compare deals across multiple platforms.
  • In-store experiences are regaining traction, but retailers must ensure their POS systems, Wi-Fi networks, and digital payment channels are protected.

Cybercriminals Are Ready to Strike

The surge in online traffic and transaction volume creates the perfect environment for cybercrime.

During Black Friday, we typically see spikes in:

  • Phishing scams imitating popular retailers or courier services.
  • Fake websites offering deals that are too good to be true.
  • Fraudulent payment gateways capturing sensitive customer information.

Even well-established retailers can fall victim if their systems aren’t monitored closely. That’s why robust network monitoring, intrusion detection, and employee awareness are essential during this high-risk period.

Stay Secure While You Scale

As retailers push for record-breaking sales, cybersecurity must be part of the strategy—not an afterthought.

The right protections ensure your systems stay online, your data stays safe, and your customers stay confident in your brand.

At Soteria Cloud, we help South African businesses prepare for high-traffic events like Black Friday with:

  • Encrypted, real-time data backup solutions
  • Secure payment and transaction monitoring
  • Comprehensive Data Loss Prevention (DLP) across more than 70 communication channels
  • 24/7 protection and rapid response to emerging threats

When every second counts, our cloud-based solutions keep your business running securely—no matter how heavy the load.

Protect Your Business This Black Friday

Before the shopping frenzy begins, take time to ensure your systems, staff, and customers are protected.

With the right preparation, Black Friday can be a time of growth—not risk.

Learn more about Soteria’s Data Loss prevention powered by Acronis and get your cybersecurity ready for the busiest shopping weekend of the year.

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Aiming for Zero Data Loss – Online Backup

Why Zero Data Loss Recovery Is Becoming Essential

Recent cyber incidents in countries around the world and closer to home are highlighting the devastating impact of data loss with South Africa seen as a soft target.

Well-known local brands targeted by cyberattacks have faced major service outages, financial disruption, and reputational damage after critical systems failed – and the trend shows no signs of letting up. 

These cases show that traditional data backup models can be insufficient in the face of sophisticated cyberattacks, and why organisations are now rethinking their approach to data recovery.

The new protocol sweeping the industry is “zero data loss”. Here’s what it is and how to implement it.

Unpacking Zero Data Loss

The concept of zero data loss goes much further than simply having regular backups. 

  • Zero data loss means being able to restore systems to the exact state they were in before a disruption, with no downtime and no gaps in data. 
  • Traditional daily or even hourly backups leave businesses exposed, because any transactions or updates between cycles are lost. 
  • In a world where ransomware, outages, and human error are constant risks, this margin of loss is no longer acceptable.

To close all possible gaps, zero data loss requires continuous protection. 

This can take the form of real-time replication, journaling, or advanced recovery appliances that capture every change as it happens. 

It also demands immutability, so that backups cannot be altered, and auditability, so that businesses can prove their data integrity to regulators and customers alike. We have featured immutable storage as part of our service offering for several years with excellent results. 

The benefits of Zero Data Loss: hard to overestimate 

It’s no secret: the risk of losing crucial data in the current cybersecurity climate has never been greater.

  • In regulated industries like finance or healthcare, even the smallest data gap can have legal consequences. 
  • This is especially problematic in light of the POPIA regulations which provide for multi-million Rand fines and even criminal prosecution in extreme cases. 

In sectors where customer trust is critical, a brief period of missing or corrupted records can lead to long-term damage. 

In the UK, retail giant Marks & Spencer learned this lesson recently when a massive cybersecurity failure left their business processes frozen for days. The reputational damage arising from the attack is estimated at over £40 million and may linger for months following the incident itself.

The reputational cost of data loss often outweighs the immediate financial hit, making resilience a board-level priority.

Creating a Zero Data Loss Environment 

Building systems that achieve zero data loss is not simple. The infrastructure costs can be significant, and real-time replication introduces technical challenges for companies of every size.

Ensuring consistency across multiple interdependent systems is equally complex. For this reason, achieving zero data loss must be seen as a strategic investment rather than just a technical project.

Fortunately, the multiple layers of cybersecurity technology required to minimise data loss no longer have to be built independently and separately. Comprehensive backup and cybersecurity solutions that allow users to erect a steel dome of data security around their files exist today – and we’re proud to offer a range of them. 

Powered by Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud, our platform delivers for SMBs on backup and rapid restore, disaster recovery-as-a-service, compliance and governance and full cybersecurity integrated with backup.

To learn more about our Total Data Protection package and other solutions that cover all aspects of data security across multiple platforms, click the button below.

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Stay Ahead with Managed Services – Email Security

Email Security Managed Services: Strengthening Defences Against Modern Threats

Every day, hundreds of billions of emails are sent and received around the world, creating just as many opportunities for privacy breaches and cyberattacks to occur. 

Email remains a fundamental communication tool for individuals and businesses alienating and as such, it simply can’t afford to be insecure. Compromised email accounts can lead to data theft, social engineering scams, or even total account takeover through impersonation attacks.

In South Africa, cyberattacks are rising sharply, mirroring a global trend.

According to Trend Micro’s Email Threat Landscape Report, the majority of online threats in 2025 originated from email-based vectors. Attackers are refining their methods, using AI-generated phishing content, domain spoofing, and business email compromise (BEC) to bypass traditional filters and exploit human error. 

With email remaining the preferred delivery channel for malware and ransomware, the need for comprehensive, managed protection has never been greater.

Introducing Email Security as a Service 

An Email Security Managed Service addresses this challenge by combining advanced detection, automation, and real-time threat intelligence into a single managed solution. 

Rather than relying on static filters or manual monitoring, ESMS platforms continuously learn from emerging attack patterns across millions of data points worldwide. This allows them to identify suspicious links, attachments, and sender behaviour before an employee even opens a message. 

An advance warning system can help prevent malicious mails from being opened, blocking the source of 90% of cyberattacks. 

The best Email security services also help simplify cybersecurity management. 

  • Automated policy enforcement, encryption, and data loss prevention tools work silently in the background, ensuring compliance and reducing the burden on in-house IT teams. 
  • By outsourcing email security to a trusted provider, businesses gain 24/7 monitoring, proactive threat response, and expert support that would otherwise require significant in-house investment. 

For small and medium-sized enterprises in particular, this model offers enterprise-grade protection at a predictable monthly cost.

Secure your email with Soteria 

In an era when email remains both indispensable and vulnerable, managed email security services offer the best combination of convenience, automation, and peace of mind, ensuring your inbox remains a place for communication, not compromise.

Soteria’s Email Security Managed service will help protect your company email by:

  • Stopping ransomware and zero-day malware before they reach your inbox.
  • Protecting your team from clicking on malicious links across any device.
  • Blocking emerging threats with real-time threat intelligence.
  • Preventing account takeover attempts.

Secure your business email with us today. Click the button below to learn more.  

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Avoiding Spam Calls with WhatsApp – Cybersecurity Threats

A Renewed Shift to WhatsApp with an Increase in Spam Calls

Mobile voice calling in South Africa has been under pressure in recent years, driven by the rise of data and messaging apps – and now a relentless onslaught of spam calls is threatening to make the phone call obsolete.

Lately, when an unknown number appears, the call goes unanswered. That level of distrust between people threatens to chip away at the very value proposition that voice once held for families, businesses, customer support, and networking.

Here’s what every business owner needs to know about spam voice calls and how to migrate to alternatives like WhatsApp safely.

Spam calls shine a spotlight on sales and telemarketing

There’s no doubt that the sales industry has a role to play in the explosion of ‘robo’ calls in markets around the world, with SA being no exception. 

Telemarketers and call centres have evolved their tactics to exploit human behaviour and system loopholes. They now rely heavily on strategies like these:

  • Mobile number spoofing and misuse: Instead of using obvious 087 or landline numbers (which almost always get rejected), spammers now present calls as mobile numbers to increase pickup rates.
  • SIM rotation / burner tactics: Prepaid SIMs are cycled out as soon as flags are raised, enabling mass dialling operations to persist.
  • Regulatory arbitrage (“policy stretching”): Some, especially brazen companies, push the boundaries of “fair use” policies, or use minimal effort to appear compliant while continuing intrusive practices. 

In the face of rising spam calls, companies and individuals are seeking ways to opt out of nuisance communications which have the potential to be used for social engineering attacks. But navigating your legal options can be tricky.

Blocking Spam: The regulatory puzzle

Ridding your company or personal device of spam communications isn’t as easy as flicking a switch. 

Networks including Vodacom say they can’t analyse the content of calls without breaching interception laws under RICA. As the country’s oldest network put it, distinguishing spam via content inspection would amount to “unlawful interception.” 

Meanwhile, regulators are scrambling to catch up. Upgrades to the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), effective April 2025, now explicitly target direct marketing abuses. Some of the key changes include:

  • Telemarketers must record telephonic consent on first contact—even with automated systems—and make those recordings available to consumers on demand.
  • “Opt-out” no longer qualifies as valid consent. Marketers must obtain explicit opt-in consent before contacting non-customers. 
  • Consent records must be stored, auditable, and accessible.
  • Consumers gain stronger rights to request deletion, correction, or objection of their personal data, with prompt response obligations (within 30 days).
  • A mandatory e-portal was introduced to report data breaches and spam complaints, with the aim of improving transparency and regulatory response.

These changes are intended to tilt the balance in favour of consumers. But critics warn that enforcement is still uneven, and spammers adapt faster than the law can intervene. As a result, South Africans are ignoring calls completely and switching to platforms like Whatsapp.

Switching to WhatsApp safely in the age of spam calls

With Spam calls turning users away from traditional telephonic communications, WhatsApp is emerging as the natural alternative. 

But simply using the app without taking the necessary precautions could be like going from the frying pan to the fire: WhatsApp is also vulnerable to certain types of cyberattacks. 

Recent reports show that even with apps like Truecaller and built-in filters, spam calls slip through at alarming rates. In one test, up to 90% of calls to a South African number were spam. 

To complicate matters further, Truecaller itself is under investigation for alleged POPIA violations, raising big questions about the credibility of third party apps.

With spam overwhelming voice channels and regulation still lagging, many individuals and businesses are moving their primary communications to apps like WhatsApp. But while WhatsApp provides more control over who can reach you, it is not immune to cybercrime. 
Criminals have been known to hijack accounts, distribute phishing links, and impersonate trusted contacts.

Using WhatsApp securely

If you’re making the switch, take steps to harden your security:

  • Enable two-step verification: Add a PIN to protect your account from SIM-swap attacks.
  • Lock your app: Use biometric or device-level passwords so nobody can access chats if your phone is stolen.
  • Stay alert to phishing: Don’t click on suspicious links or open unknown attachments, even from familiar numbers.
  • Verify business accounts: Look for the green tick badge on official business profiles to avoid imposters.
  • Backup carefully: Enable encrypted backups but store them securely to avoid exposing chat histories.
  • Limit group exposure: Review who can add you to groups, reducing your chances of being pulled into spam or scam groups.
  • Educate staff: Train employees on secure use of WhatsApp, including how to spot social engineering attempts.

Now is the time for comprehensive data security

With spam calls and the risk of cybercrime making it difficult, if not impossible, to do something as simple as accept a phone call, it has never been clearer that our digital world is becoming less secure. 

Fortunately, for every innovation cybercriminals develop to steal your data, there is a powerful tool available from Soteria, in partnership with Acronis, to help keep your valuable files safe and encrypted in the cloud.

Businesses that decide to switch their communications exclusively to app-based platforms will need to ensure that data transferred via these channels is properly backed up. 

A turnkey solution like File Sync and Share with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud could be the ideal choice for any business migrating to fully digital communications in 2025 with backup and recovery, anti-malware, endpoint protection management and file sharing.

Click the button below to learn more.

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Affiliates and Resellers: Grow Your Business with Soteria Cloud

When it comes to growing revenue in the tech industry, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach.

Influencers may capture thousands of likes and followers, but cybersecurity resellers bring something different to the table: deep technical expertise and the infrastructure to support clients of every size. Both approaches have value, but neither compares to delivering true peace of mind through cutting-edge online security.

With this in mind, Soteria Cloud, powered by Acronis cyber protection technology, offers two distinct partnership models—tailored to match different business strategies and growth goals.

  • An Affiliate Model, perfect for generating passive, recurring income without operational overhead.
  • A Reseller Model, ideal for businesses ready to take full control, own the client relationship, and build branded solutions.

Whether you want a hands-off revenue stream or a fully customised offering, both models put you on the path to growth.

Share Your Network With an Affiliate Partnership

The Affiliate Model is designed for individuals and businesses with trusted networks who want to earn recurring commissions without managing technical operations.

How It Works:

  • Sign up as an affiliate and receive your unique referral link.
  • Share the link with your clients, audience, or community.
  • Soteria handles everything from onboarding, billing, and customer service to ongoing service delivery.
  • You earn recurring income for the lifetime of the referred customer.

Key Benefits:

  • Zero Overhead: No infrastructure, support teams, or billing systems needed.
  • Effortless Earnings: Get paid monthly, with commissions stacking as your network grows.
  • Trusted Technology: Backed by Acronis, a global leader in cyber protection.

To help affiliate partners spread the news about our data protection packages, we provide comprehensive marketing collateral. You’ll get the  banners, brochures, and content included to help you promote quickly and get great results. 

This type of partnership is ideal for consultants, bloggers, thought leaders, and advisors who want to leverage their reputation and generate a steady income without operational complexity. 

Expand Your Offering With a Reseller Partnership

Our Reseller Model is designed for businesses ready to own the customer experience while leveraging Soteria’s robust infrastructure and Acronis-powered solutions.

How It Works:

  • Purchase wholesale access to Soteria’s platform.
  • Use the Reseller Control Panel to configure, price, and package your services.
  • White-label the solution under your own brand and add additional value for your clients.

As a reseller, you decide the pricing model, whether per workload, GB, or device, and manage the client relationship independently.

Key Benefits:

  • Total Brand Control: Offer solutions under your own name, with Soteria powering the backend.
  • Flexible Billing: Set your own margins and pricing structures.
  • Scalable Service Offering: Add advanced tools like EDR, XDR, DLP, disaster recovery, and email security to create premium packages.
  • Local Expertise, Global Tech: Combine Soteria’s local-based support with world class Acronis technology.

Our reseller programme is aimed at MSPs, ISPs, IT providers, and cybersecurity businesses looking to differentiate their services and maximise profitability while maintaining direct client relationships.

Grow Your Business Your Way With Us

With Soteria Cloud, you don’t have to compromise. Whether you prefer a social income stream or want to build a full-service cyber protection offering under your brand, both models put you in control of your business growth.

If you’re ready to get started, Visit Soteria Cloud Partnerships and choose the path that works for you.

Here’s How You Can Benefit