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Few cybersecurity threats generate as much alarm as remote code execution, or RCE. This type of flaw allows an attacker to run malicious code on someone else’s deviceno physical access required. Its a chilling scenario: a hacker, potentially halfway across the world, gains the ability to infiltrate systems, steal data, or disrupt operations. What makes RCE vulnerabilities so dangerous isnt just the immediate impactits the unknown consequences that can follow. In just a matter of days, a recently disclosed RCE vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint, the enterprise platform many companies rely on to store and share internal documents, sent shockwaves of concern throughout organizations, leaving many searching for answers as to what they need to know and how they can protect themselves and their customers. Why did this thing get so big so fast? The SharePoint vulnerability received a severity score of 9.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS), which is a standardized framework used to assess and prioritize security flaws. A score that high signals a critical risk, meaning affected organizations should apply the available patch immediately. The extreme severity, paired with SharePoints widespread use in enterprise environments, helped the threat (and the headlines) spread rapidly. When an attack of this scale occurs, its natural to look for something or someone to blame. Outdated or neglected systems are often among the first to be blamed in cybersecurity, but in this case, legacy infrastructure wasnt the issue. SharePoint is actively maintained, and a patch was already available. The challenge was that security teams typically dont know whats vulnerable until a flaw is publicly disclosedand from there, it becomes a race to assess risk and apply the fix before attackers can take advantage. Protecting company secrets The SharePoint RCE vulnerability is a reminder that protecting sensitive information starts with controlling who has access to it. One of the simplest ways to keep intruders out is by using multi-factor authenticationthe process of confirming your identity with more than just a password. Yes, it can be a hassle to enter a code from your phone, but that small extra step makes it much harder for attackers to break in. SharePoint comes with built-in tools that let organizations control who can see and edit files. But those tools only work if they’re used wisely. For example, not every employee needs access to every document. Keeping sensitive files limited to just the people who need them helps reduce the risk if someone does manage to sneak into the system. Its also important to watch for unusual behaviorsmall signs that something might be wrong. If someones account suddenly tries to access files they dont normally use, logs in from an unfamiliar location or gets blocked repeatedly when trying to open restricted content, those are red flags. Many organizations use tools like Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platforms and user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA) to catch these early warning signs. SIEM tools help security teams monitor activity across the network, while UEBA uses patterns and data to flag behavior thats out of the ordinary. Together, they can help stop an attack before it causes serious damage. Now what? Incidents like the SharePoint vulnerability highlight just how quickly a virtual flaw can turn into a real-world problemexposing sensitive data, disrupting operations and shaking trust. These events offer organizations a moment to revisit the fundamentals: making sure employees know how to recognize phishing attempts, limiting who has access to critical documents and using safeguards like multi-factor authentication to keep intruders out. But the real key is consistency. Cybersecurity has to be built into the culture of the organization. That means clear policies, ongoing awareness, and fast action when something feels off. The companies that fare best in the face of threats like RCEs arent always the biggest or most high-techtheyre the ones that stay alert, respond quickly and prioritize cybersecurity as an essential part of the business.
Category:
E-Commerce
Africas e-commerce sector is experiencing a renaissance. In 2025, Africas retail e-commerce is expected to reach over $39 billion, and $55 billion by 2029. This growth is driven by ambitious brands, from contemporary fashion labels to innovative lifestyle businesses, capturing both local and international demand. These businesses are leveraging digital commerce and modern payment rails to reach more customers than ever before. E-commerce is also emerging as a critical lever to help businesses recover from economic shocks and unlock the trade potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Yet one critical barrier threatens to limit their growth: access to affordable, flexible credit. Medium-scale e-commerce enterprises, those beyond micro-entrepreneurship but not yet large corporations, face a unique financing challenge. These businesses are too large for microfinance but often too small, or perceived as too risky, for traditional commercial banking. Despite steady sales, loyal customers, and growing brand equity, they struggle to secure financing to scale production, expand logistics, or invest in technology to serve a wider market. The financing shortfall for sub-Saharan Africa exceeds $331 billion, with medium-sized consumer-facing businesses among the hardest hit. A report by USAID and eTrade Alliance which surveyed over 2,000 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, shows that these businesses are eager to expand e-commerce capabilities, internet connectivity, and invest in digital transformation, but access to finance remains one of their greatest barriers. Consider, for instance, a mid-sized Nairobi fashion retailer that grew steadily through an online storefront but struggled to finance improved packaging and marketing to reach buyers in Europe. Despite years of consistent sales, it was unable to access credit on reasonable terms because traditional lenders viewed its cash flows as unpredictable. Cases like this are widespread. As Africas middle class expands, with roughly 212 million people projected to reach middle income status by 2030 and consumer spending expected to hit $2 trillion in 2025the demand for e-commerce will surge. However, tight credit access could block supply-side growth. When growing brands cannot secure credit to expand inventory, strengthen logistics, or build new supplier partnerships, they risk ceding market share to bigger, better capitalised competitors. These missed opportunities ripple through ecosystems and impact suppliers, logistics firms, and technology partners that depend on a thriving e-commerce sector. 4 things that need to improve Credit is not a luxury for these businesses. It is essential to transform local brands with global ambitions into long-term economic engines. It can do so by following these four principles. Smarter lending evaluation. Information asymmetry hinders small and medium enterprise (SME) financing in Africa; many small businesses lack formal financial records and credit history. This leads traditional lenders to demand high collateral given difficulty in assessing risk. To overcome this, lenders should use real-time transactional data (e.g., e-commerce sales, inventory, customer reviews) to accurately assess creditworthiness for excluded SMEs. Data-sharing partnerships. Payment providers, marketplaces, distributors, and banks should collaborate to share transaction histories and supply chain data, helping lenders assess risk with confidence. Blended finance and risk-sharing facilities. Scale public-private instruments like the Africa Guarantee Fund and the Bank of Industry risk-sharing arrangements. These reduce lenders risks and help lower the cost of credit. Targeted financing for digital transformation. As the Alliance for eTrade Development research shows, many MSMEs want to invest in better internet connectivity, digital marketing, and fulfilment capabilities but cannot secure affordable loans for these upgrades. New financing products tailored to e-commerce investment would directly unlock their growth potential. The opportunity ahead As governments and the private sector work to advance e-commerce policy frameworks under AfCFTA, prioritizing simpler customs procedures, strengthening cross-border payments, and improving digital ID systems, credit access must rise to the top of the agenda. Payments are a foundation, but credit is a growth driver. We must build the financial tools that empower Africas most ambitious entrepreneurs to dream bigger, scale faster, and compete globally. When they grow, Africa grows. Olugbenga GB Agboola is founder and CEO of Flutterwave.
Category:
E-Commerce
Its time to admit it: Too much of the social impact sector is still funding yesterdays solutions while claiming to advance towards a better tomorrow. Ive been in this sector since I was a teenagerfirst as a volunteer, then a builder, and now the founder of one of the fastest-growing global tech-for-good ecosystems. In July, I spoke at the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, where my Tech To The Rescue team co-organized the inaugural Impact Awards with the U.N. Reviewing hundreds of applications made one thing clear: AI is not a spreadsheet upgrade. It’s not a shiny new tool to tape onto old processes. It’s a paradigm shift that will fundamentally change how social impact work gets doneor if it gets done at all. Yet as funding tightens worldwide, too many well-meaning philanthropies and public funders continue to back safe innovation. They’re pouring dwindling dollars into essential training programs and pilots, often without the deeper, fundamental work of building truly AI-native organizations. Or worse, they simply bolt AI onto outdated models as superficial add-ons. This isnt just a tactical mistake. Its a systemic failure. Because the stakes arent theoretical. When the wrong approach wins funding, real communities lose time they dont have. The sectors favorite stance: Were ready Tinkering and experimentation are crucial in innovation; they’re the messy beginning, the fearless exploration of doing something differently. But most current AI upskilling strategies don’t go deep enough. They promise transformation but deliver surface-level tool adoption. They teach nonprofits to use chatbots, or off-the-shelf SaaS without changing the underlying mindset or organizational DNA. Tools alone won’t bridge this glaring gap between today’s organizations and tomorrow’s reality. By 2027, technology will be talking to technology. And how do we respond to that? Currently we translate 20th century workflows into 21st century software. We optimize the wrong things. Were not preparing social impact organizations for a future defined by machine learning, large language models, and autonomous decision systems. Were handing them hammers and asking them to fix microchips. And yes, some of this is our own fault as an industry. We reward safe proposals. We praise incrementalism. We design funding cycles to avoid complexity. And then we act surprised when no one steps up with real change. What AI-native impact could look like At the AI for Good Summit, reviewing projects was a crash course in where the sector is getting it rightand wrong. Some of the winners point to exactly the kind of AI-native, partnership-driven future we need: CareNX Innovations built an AI-powered fetal monitoring system for rural clinics without specialists, helping reduce preventable infant deaths. Not just automation, but new, accessible medical capability. SmartCatch by WorldFish combines machine learning, computer vision, and on-device species recognition to help small-scale fishers manage sustainable catch while fighting biodiversity lossa systems-level intervention that includes everyone. Farmer.Chat from Digital Green offers localized, voice-based agricultural advice in low-literacy, low-connectivity settings. Large language models adapt to context, not just push generic tips. Sophia from Spring ACT is an AI-powered chatbot offering secure, anonymous, multi-language support to domestic violence survivors worldwideshowing how ethics and impact can be built in from the ground up. These arent just shiny demos. Theyre working examples of how AI can help build real, resilient, human-centered solutionsif were willing to fund them. Stop funding AI add-ons and start funding disruption If youre a funder, this is the call to get serious. Stop funding cosmetic changes. Invest in the transformative. Look for partners who dont just want to use AI, but who are ready to become AI-native. That means backing organizations willing to rethink how they deliver services, measure impact, and collaborate across sectors. It means funding those willing to merge, partner, or even cannibalize their old models to serve people better. We cant afford to keep funding NGOs that add AI as a feature. We need to help build the next generation of social impact organizations that are designed from the ground up for an AI world. A future worth funding What does that future look like? Its one where nonprofits stop solving problems in silos. Where they build shared infrastructuredata, models, platformsto tackle challenges at scale. Where small teams use AI to compress timelines and costs, making solutions accessible in the places with the fewest resources. Its a world where human expertise focuses on empathy, ethics, and hyperlocal context, while technology handles the repeatable, the predictable, the scalable. Weve seen glimpses of this at Tech To The Rescue. Through our AI for Changemakers program alone, weve worked with over 100 organizations in the past year to move beyond one-off pilots. Weve helped them build AI strategies, access affordable tooling, and design real solutions for crisis response, healthcare, education, and more. And even with all that, too many nonprofits still struggle to implement, let alone scale. Because the real barrier isnt tools. Its the ability to disrupt themselves before the world does. The case for betting on disruption If youre a donor, an investor, a policy maker: Your job isnt to make organizations comfortable. Its to make them effective. That means funding the ones ready for the rollercoaster. The ones that want to build shared systems, not own proprietary ones. The ones willing to be accountable for outcomes, not just activities. And yes, it means accepting some failure along the way. Because the alternative is pretending we’re changing the world while replicating the same failures at scale. Stop talkingstart funding disruptors For too long, our sector has been stuck in a looptalking, workshopping, strategizing, while advancing slowly. The world doesn’t need more frameworks. It needs action. Full disclosure: At Tech To The Rescue, we’re climbing the same hill. We wrestle with impact tracking, speed, and staying in the zone of truth over hype. Some days we move too slowly. Some days we move too fast. We dont always get it right. But this is the only way to build anything that matters now. It’s messy. It’s hard. But it’s also how were going to win. By 2030, the social impact sector wont look like it does today. Many nonprofits will merge or vanish. The ones that remain will be AI-native, collaborative, and ruthlessly focused on outcomes, not activities. If you want to fund something that will matter in 2030, start fuding those building that future now. Jacek Siadkowski is CEO and cofounder of Tech To The Rescue.
Category:
E-Commerce
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