According to the National Kenya Computer Incident Response Team Coordination Centre (National KE-CIRT/CC), the first quarter of 2025 recorded over 2.5 billion cyber threat events—a significant rise compared to the previous quarter.
This alarming surge came into sharper focus following insights shared at the Safaricom Cybersecurity Summit 2025, held at the Mövenpick Hotel, Nairobi. The event, themed "Powering Progress. Securing Growth", brought together business leaders, government officials, regulators, and technology specialists to discuss how Kenya can reinforce its digital defenses amid an escalating cyber threat landscape.
Critical Alert
Over 2.5 billion cyber threat events recorded in Kenya during Q1 2025, with the MICE industry emerging as a prime target for cybercriminals.
Why the MICE Industry is Particularly Vulnerable
The business events sector holds unique risk factors that cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting. Understanding these vulnerabilities is the first step toward building effective defenses:
High-Value Personal and Corporate Data
Delegates share personal identifiable information (PII), passport details, accommodation preferences, and even financial information during registration. A single breach can expose thousands of individuals' sensitive data.
Heavy Reliance on Digital Tools
From online registrations and ticketing platforms to event apps and virtual meeting platforms, digital systems are deeply embedded in the event experience, creating multiple attack vectors.
Temporary Wi-Fi Networks and Multiple Access Points
Events typically run on open or semi-open Wi-Fi networks, creating perfect gateways for attackers to intercept data or deploy malware.
International Participants
Cross-border data transfers increase exposure to global cyber-threat actors operating across different jurisdictions and regulatory environments.
Vendors and Third-Party Systems
Catering, exhibition management, AV providers, app developers and hotels all interact with the same datasets, dramatically increasing the attack surface and vulnerability points.
The Business Case for Cybersecurity Investment
Protect Trust and Brand Reputation
Maintain stakeholder confidence and avoid costly reputation damage from data breaches
Ensure Smooth Event Operations
Prevent disruptions that could derail events and impact participant experience
Increase Stakeholder Confidence
Demonstrate commitment to security to attract high-value clients and partners
Essential Cybersecurity Measures for Event Organizers
Immediate Action Steps
Secure Registration Systems – Implement end-to-end encryption for all delegate data collection and storage
Event App Security – Conduct thorough security testing of all event applications before deployment
Wi-Fi Protection – Use enterprise-grade secure Wi-Fi solutions with proper authentication
Vendor Security Assessment – Ensure all third-party vendors meet minimum cybersecurity standards
Incident Response Plan – Develop and test a comprehensive incident response protocol
Safaricom Cybersecurity Summit 2025 Key Insights
The summit highlighted several critical trends that MICE industry professionals need to address:
Ransomware Targeting Events: Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting events with ransomware attacks, knowing organizers will pay to avoid event cancellation.
Data Harvesting at Scale: Large events provide rich data harvesting opportunities for attackers seeking personal and corporate information.
Supply Chain Vulnerabilities: Weakest link attacks through vendors and partners are becoming more common and sophisticated.
The Bottom Line: Cybersecurity is Non-Negotiable
Protecting online data must be a top priority to safeguard the credibility and future competitiveness of the MICE sector. With cyber threats growing in both volume and sophistication, event organizers can no longer treat cybersecurity as an afterthought. The 2.5 billion threat events recorded in just one quarter serve as a stark warning: proactive investment in digital security is essential for protecting trust, ensuring smooth operations, and maintaining stakeholder confidence in an increasingly digital events landscape.