Forecast: Number of Secure Internet Servers in South Africa

The number of secure internet servers in South Africa has shown significant growth from 2013 to 2023, increasing from 9.3 thousand to 1190.9 thousand. This steep rise, largely driven by technological advancements and a growing emphasis on cybersecurity, indicates heightened digital infrastructure and online transactions. Notably, there was an especially dramatic surge of 942.28% from 2016 to 2017. However, in recent years, this growth rate has slowed, with a year-on-year increase of only 10.24% recorded in 2023. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the last five years (2018-2023) stands at 11.36%.

Looking forward, the forecast suggests continued expansion of secure internet servers in South Africa, expected to reach 1728.5 thousand by 2028, with a projected CAGR of 5.86% for the next five years. This represents a sustainable but more moderate growth trajectory compared to previous years.

Future trends to watch for include:

• Increased adoption of cloud services and secure server technologies as more businesses digitize.
• Regulatory changes aimed at enhancing cybersecurity measures.
• The impact of emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain on server security needs.