As small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) navigate digital transformation, the biggest hurdle can be the cost and finding the right digital business tools. Digital business tools are important because they enable SMEs to focus on running their business and increase profits, while technology takes care of the mundane tasks.
One of the more critical aspects of digital transformation is cybersecurity. Cybersecurity is important for all businesses to ensure that the business and its customers are protected. At the 2025 SME SA Funding Summit, Sean Twala of the Innovation Hub Group highlighted that cybersecurity is a growing risk for SMEs in South Africa.
“Businesses that have low turnovers or smaller businesses don’t usually take cybersecurity as something seriously. We are here to take care of SMEs and ensure their compliance with regulations and keep their businesses safe,” Twala said.
What is Cybersecurity for SMEs?
Cybersecurity is a foundational element of digital transformation for SMEs. It is the practice of protecting digital systems, networks, data and software from cyber threats like attacks, damage, data theft or unauthorised access.
Integrating cybersecurity measures from the start is crucial and involves more than just tools. SMEs need to train their employees, leverage multi-factor authentication and practice regular security updates.
SME founders might not always be aware of the best cybersecurity practices, and that’s where the Innovation Hub Group is helping.
What is the Innovation Hub Group?
The Innovation Hub Group is an end-to-end ICT solutions provider. The company’s services vary from ICT infrastructure deployment to enterprise internet and telephony solutions. Under its services, the company includes:
IT Solutions
End-to-end IT solutions that are tailored to match the needs of your business, whether through flexible monthly SLAs or on-demand support. IT solutions include desktop maintenance, firewall maintenance and IT hardware and installation. The Innovation Hub Group’s IT solutions begin at R189 per month for desktop maintenance up to R650 per month for server maintenance.
Server Hosting
The company’s server hosting solution enables users to access resources from anywhere, on any device. This helps reduce the need for SMEs to run expensive hardware infrastructure on their local network. Server hosting solutions are from R699 per month.
Web Hosting
Web hosting allows SMEs to post a website or web page on the Internet. The Innovation Hub Group’s web hosting services are secure and affordable, with a focus on hosted e-mail. Through hosted e-mail, SMEs can use Office 365, Microsoft Exchange, IMAP and POP. E-mail hosting is from R69 per month.
Internet Solutions
The Innovation Hub Group provides a range of Internet services, including fibre, microwave, wireless and LTE. The Internet solutions range from R299 per month for LTE and from R899 per month for business fibre.
Software Services
Software is important for digital businesses because it performs automated tasks, responds to hardware and responds to data requests from other software. The Innovation Hub Group’s software solutions are tailored based on your workflow and business needs. Software suites cost from R69 per month and vary, including customer relationship management (CRM) to remote management.
Power Back Up
With loadshedding causing so many operational disruptions for SMEs, backup power solutions are important. The Innovation Hub Group offers 3KVA 24V and 5KVA 48V backup power solutions, ensuring company PCs, servers and equipment with stable power during loadshedding. Backup power solutions are from R1599 per month for 24V and from R2219 per month for 48V.
Security Solutions
The security of your SME is very important to its operations. The Innovation Hub Group’s extensive cybersecurity solutions are suited for SMEs looking to secure their systems and data. The company’s security solutions leverage machine learning and automatic threat response technology to ensure data is secure. In terms of cost, its antivirus solutions are from R250 per annum.
Financial Services
Access to different types of funding is not always easy for SMEs, and with so many elements of the business needing capital, a simple loan won’t do the trick. The Innovation Hub Group offers flexible financing solutions to SMEs looking to procure hardware, software, maintenance and other services. The company’s financing solutions are tailored to each business, and the repayment period is flexible.
“We know that SMEs are looking for funding, but we want to make sure digital transformation and cybersecurity are affordable for them. Once they get their funding, we want them to see us as an affordable and trustworthy partner to streamline their businesses,” Twala concluded.
