MTN Business and Cloudflare Expand Partnership to Deliver Managed Security Services Across South Africa
Hybrid work complexities and a dynamic threat landscapes are challenging businesses across South Africa. In the first quarter of 2025, Cloudflare's security measures prevents millions of cyber threats in Africa every single day, across a variety of industries. Businesses across every sector are facing a rapidly evolving threat landscape which requires a comprehensive suite of solutions to safeguard their digital operations at all times. While Cloudflare's Application Services accelerate and secure web applications, the Cloudflare One Zero Trust services simultaneously verifies access, securing connectivity to protect employees at every stage. Now partnering together to empower businesses in the region, MTN is extending Cloudflare's portfolio of services as managed services to work hand-in-hand with organizations of all types.
As cyber threats evolve in scale and complexity, organizations should not have to rely on their own technical expertise to run and maintain a secure, efficient business. MTN and Cloudflare see businesses across the country seeking a one-stop-solution. Whether a small business or a large enterprise, organisations can now access scalable security solutions that align with their specific needs. Leveraging Cloudflare's industry-leading security and cloud connectivity, MTN Business will deliver the services at-scale, making managed services accessible to a broader market. A Cloudflare commissioned Forrester Consulting Total Economic Impact™ study focused on a composite organization representative of interviewed customers using Cloudflare, found that they achieved a 238% ROI over three years, from broad use of the Cloudflare platform.
'We are thrilled to be the first Cloudflare MSSP partner in South Africa. This collaboration enables us to bring best-in-class cybersecurity solutions to our customers, offering market-leading protection', said David Behr, Executive for MTN ICT Converged Solutions. 'Unlike outdated legacy architecture solutions, Cloudflare's connectivity cloud suite of solutions delivers unparalleled security, providing businesses the confidence to operate in an increasingly digital world.'
'Cloudflare is the only company offering a broad range of network security and SASE services through a unified platform built on our own infrastructure, delivering the most comprehensive set of managed solutions. Service providers like MTN are essential to extending critical security protections at scale, and we are thrilled to be partnering together to help protect businesses across Africa,' said Tom Evans, Chief Partner Officer at Cloudflare. 'As the demand for managed security services continues to rise, Cloudflare's connectivity cloud platform is uniquely positioned to enable partners to deliver cost-effective, consolidated cybersecurity. By combining our platform with MTN's regional expertise, we're committed to strengthening the security posture and consolidating costs for businesses across Africa.'
Cloudflare's connectivity cloud integrates seamlessly with existing IT infrastructures, allowing businesses to enhance their security and operational efficiency without disruption. Today, South African businesses can leverage the MTN and Cloudflare partnership to strengthen their digital environments, and will soon be extended to additional African markets across the continent.
To learn more about how the MTN Business and Cloudflare partnership today, please visit:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- TimesLIVE
BHP exits $2.5bn Tanzania nickel project, says partner Lifezone
BHP Group has opted to sell its interest in the $2.5bn (R44.33bn) Kabanga nickel project in Tanzania to its partner Lifezone Metals for $83m (R1.47bn), says Lifezone. The NYSE-listed company will acquire BHP's 17% equity interest in Kabanga Nickel Limited (KNL), the majority owner of the Kabanga Nickel Project in northwestern Tanzania, Lifezone said in a filing. The company issued a report on Friday that put development costs for the project at $2.49bn (R44.16bn). It is expected to produce about 50,000 tonnes of nickel annually once fully ramped up, a process that will take six years including construction. A final investment decision on the project is due next year. BHP had agreed in 2022 to make an investment of up to $100m (R1.77bn) in the nickel mine and processing facilities if certain conditions were met. BHP still considers Kabanga to be one of the world's best undeveloped nickel sulphide projects, said a source with knowledge of the matter, but the uncertain nickel market outlook and the miner's capital allocation framework have made investments in greenfield nickel projects challenging. A BHP spokesperson declined to comment. BHP has shifted its view on nickel on the back of a boom in output from Indonesia in recent years. It put its Australian Nickel West operations on care and maintenance last year due to a poor outlook for nickel prices and a decision on the future of those operations is due by early 2027. As a result of the transaction, Lifezone now owns 100% of KNL, which holds an 84% interest in Tembo Nickel Corporation Limited (TNCL), the Tanzanian operating company for the Kabanga Nickel Project. The remaining 16% of TNCL is held by Tanzania's government. All existing agreements with BHP have been terminated and Lifezone has also assumed full control of 100% of the offtake from the Kabanga Nickel Project, it said.
IOL News
5 days ago
- IOL News
Making SA's national dialogue truly inclusive: A Mandela Day blueprint for unity and progress
Dr Nik Eberl is the Founder & Executive Chair: The Future of Jobs Summit™ (Official T20 Side Event) .He will be writing a regular column in Business Report. Image: Supplied When President Cyril Ramaphosa launched South Africa's National Dialogue last week, it reignited a powerful hope - that our fractured nation could come together, once again, to chart a shared path forward. The timing could not be more fitting. As we celebrate Mandela Day, we are reminded of Madiba's unwavering belief that dialogue is the most powerful tool we have to resolve our deepest differences and build a society grounded in dignity, justice, and unity. But to succeed, this dialogue must do more than gather leaders behind closed doors. It must be fully inclusive, reaching every corner of our country and every voice of our society. That's not just a political imperative - it's a moral one. From Soccer to Solidarity: The Lessons of 2010 We've seen before what unity can look like in South Africa. When we hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, it wasn't just a sporting event—it was a national movement. I had the privilege of serving as the Head of the Brand Ambassador Program, where tens of thousands of ordinary South Africans became storytellers, hosts, and leaders. Townships, rural villages, corporates, and taxi ranks all felt the electricity of shared purpose. That success wasn't accidental. It was built on inclusive planning, local ownership, relentless communication, and a vision that made every citizen feel like a stakeholder. If we want this dialogue to leave a legacy like 2010 did, it must follow the same blueprint - but with deeper intent. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Begin with a People's Charter for Dialogue As Mandela did with the Codesa talks, we must ground the process in a clear and public mandate. A National Dialogue Charter should be co-created with representatives from all sectors - civil society, business, labour, youth, academia, traditional leaders, and opposition parties. It must outline the dialogue's purpose, scope, structure, and principles - including equity, transparency, and citizen ownership. Let the public comment. Let them shape it. Mandela taught us that process shapes outcome. If we begin with inclusion, we end with legitimacy. Representation Is Not Enough - We Need Participation Inclusion isn't just who sits at the table. It's who helps set the table. To honour Mandela's commitment to grassroots democracy, we must ensure representation from: Youth, through dedicated tracks and forums that centre their future. Women, as equal decision-makers across all levels. Townships and rural communities, through locally hosted forums in community halls, churches, and schools. Labour and informal workers, through platforms linked to Nedlac. Disabled citizens, by investing in accessible venues, interpretation, and transportation. Immigrants, refugees, and ethnic minorities, whose voices are often silenced but whose futures are tied to ours. In 2010, we went out to the people. We brought the event into their spaces. The dialogue must do the same. Multiple Entry Points for a United Conversation Not everyone can attend a summit in Pretoria. But everyone can participate and play a role. The dialogue should follow a three-tiered structure: Community Listening Circles, gathering local concerns and aspirations. Provincial Dialogues, to synthesise and elevate key issues. The National Summit, where diverse voices deliberate and ratify the People's Agenda. Digital engagement must play a core role - using WhatsApp, SMS, and radio call-ins to capture rural and urban insights alike. The 2010 model of Fan Fests and mobile activations can inspire a National Dialogue Roadshow - bringing the conversation to taxi ranks, campuses, and marketplaces. Independent Oversight for Real Accountability Mandela never feared being held accountable - he welcomed it. The dialogue must follow that example. We need a Public Inclusion Council, independently appointed, to: Audit demographic and geographic representation, Ensure fair access, And publish monthly Inclusion Scorecards. This is not window dressing. It is trust-building infrastructure. And without it, the process risks becoming an elite ivory tower. Let Citizens Influence the Outcome The greatest danger is that this becomes another talk shop. Mandela warned us many a time of dialogue without delivery. That is why the dialogue must lead to action: Adopt a Participatory Consensus Model, advancing ideas with broad, cross-sector support. Implement the Top 10 Public Recommendations within government and business reform agendas. Use Citizens' Assemblies to resolve difficult policy impasses. Much like the infrastructure, training, and tourism strategies left behind in 2010, this dialogue must leave a visible legacy - of laws changed, lives improved, and promises kept. Use Culture and Storytelling to Build Unity Mandela knew the power of storytelling to heal and inspire. So must we. Let this dialogue come alive through art, music, murals, and oral history. Partner with poets, singers, and media producers to make the process tangible and moving. In 2010, the vuvuzela became a national symbol. In 2025, let it be the voice of the people themselves. Conclusion: A Mandela Day Challenge As we reflect on Mandela's life today, we remember not only his words, but his method: 'It is never my custom to use words lightly. If twenty-seven years in prison have done anything to us, it was to use the silence of solitude to make us understand how precious words are and how real dialogue is.' This National Dialogue is our opportunity to listen again. To each other. To our past. To our possible future. Let us honour Madiba's legacy - not with commemorations alone, but by designing a process that restores dignity, inspires unity, and delivers justice. The time for real, inclusive, courageous dialogue is now. Dr Nik Eberl is the Founder & Executive Chair: The Future of Jobs Summit™ (Official T20 Side Event) and author of Nation of Champions: How South Africa won the World Cup of Destination Branding *** The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Independent Media or IOL BUSINESS REPORT
Daily Maverick
6 days ago
- Daily Maverick
After the Bell: WhatsApp — changing the world one group (too many) at a time
It's amazing how WhatsApp has changed our lives. I think I live my life on it. And the fact that companies can use it to keep teams together across borders, oceans and continents is sometimes like magic. But this doesn't mean that it's all plain sailing. I sometimes wonder if the quickest way to bring the economies of many countries to a staggering halt would be to simply switch off WhatsApp. Really, I think I live my life on it. Virtually all of my communication. To the point where I often forget to check my email. I imagine that you, like me, are on an unbelievably long list of groups. And while it's become common to complain about the number of groups that you are on (so many groups start with the admin apologising for creating 'yet another group'), the fact is that creating another group is usually the correct solution to whatever communication problem you have. It's also amazing how WhatsApp has changed our lives. In the late 1990s, I tried to phone a friend in Harare simply to wish him Merry Christmas. This was from a home landline to a home landline. It took forever to work out how much it would cost. But that was nothing compared to how long it took. Zim being Zim, and this being the only way to speak to him, I called about 17 times just to get his landline to ring. Much easier to talk to Now, that same friend has moved several time zones away — but he's so much easier to talk to. I can call him any time and have a quick chat. All on WhatsApp. It's funny because the main reason this works is that data networks have been created. More and more of us make our calls on WhatsApp because it's cheaper. MTN and Vodacom have both noticed this, as it has had quite a big impact on their bottom line. In May, MTN said its data revenue for the first quarter of the year was up by nearly 18% and described its voice revenue as 'mostly flat'. Obviously Vodacom is hugely affected by this too — they've reported the same dynamic. At some point, some of these companies might start to switch off their voice services. Last year in December, after spending much of the day phoning tyre shops (this was the same Tyre Shop Incident of 2024, where I was inspired to write about retirement), I ran out of airtime. Thankfully, I was on the phone to an old friend at the time. I called her back on WhatsApp and we could both not stop laughing at the immaturity of running out of airtime. It was so 2002. Back when we were young. Now if you run out of airtime, you probably won't notice. Running out of data, however, will ruin your day. But WhatsApp has played probably the biggest role in this transition. I think the first cellphone I got that allowed me to make a video call was a Nokia back in 2004. The first video I took was of my friend on our roof running after what was described as one of the last three chimney sweeps in Joburg. For a decade, when I tapped on a contact, my bloody phone would ask me if I wanted to make a normal call or a video call. Not once did I tap 'video call'. Then WhatsApp came along and I was making video calls all the time. I don't know what changed, but it was WhatsApp that made me do it. Not Nokia. Like magic And of course the fact that companies can use it to keep teams together across borders, oceans and continents is sometimes like magic. But this doesn't mean that it's all plain sailing. Sometimes I wonder if a lot of what happens in WhatsApp groups has become quite performative. Perhaps it's just the career I'm in, but so often people feel they have to all join in to say the same thing. Say someone wins an award or something. Everyone in the entire group now has to be seen to say 'well done'. I'm of a generation where, if you wanted to say that, you'd make a phone call. Sometimes someone will do something really exceptional and I'll phone them to congratulate them. When everyone else congratulates them on a group, I then wonder if perhaps all of the other group members think I didn't think it was that impressive. Even though I've gone further and phoned them. I realise I'm a member of the species Grumpasaurous for saying this, but I find birthdays particularly tiresome. If you have 50 people on a group, that's a birthday almost every week. And with 49 messages saying the same thing every week, that's nearly 2,500 messages a year. All saying the same thing. Being of an age where my birthdays have ceased to exist (I have children…), I often just don't see the point. I'm probably on my own here. In fact, I hope that I am. And that everyone else just gets more joy from this than I do. WhatsApp is dangerously close to becoming my entire life. I can't imagine life without it.
