As cyberattacks rise across Nigeria, Sophos Africa Sales Director Prish Thaakar believes the solution lies in adopting artificial intelligence and expert-led security services. He said major threats like ransomware and business email compromise continue to affect organizations, especially in underserved sectors, due to limited cybersecurity infrastructure.
Thaakar, who has spent over 18 years building security businesses across the Americas, Asia Pacific, and Africa, noted that Nigeria’s digital growth has exposed many gaps. However, he explained that those gaps can be managed effectively through Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services powered by AI.
According to him, MDR delivers top-tier security protection regardless of a company’s in-house expertise. Thaakar pointed out that many large Nigerian companies are already investing in threat detection, and small businesses are beginning to see the value in simple, affordable security tools. Sophos, he said, provides both ends of the market with scalable protection.
To support Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, Thaakar said Sophos offers round-the-clock support through its Partner Care service, along with technical training, certifications, and marketing assistance. The company also improved its Managed Service Provider (MSP) program, allowing resellers and service providers to grow with flexible billing and continuous protection.
Thaakar revealed that the recently launched MSP Elevate program is now available in West Africa. The initiative offers new incentives, threat response tools, and region-specific certifications tailored to local market needs.
Sophos also held a partner event in Lagos to align its strategy with local channel partners. Thaakar described the event as an opportunity to train partners, share product updates, and celebrate high-performing contributors. He emphasized that the goal was to equip Nigerian resellers and service providers to deliver better customer value and lead the shift to modern cybersecurity across the region.
