Technology
Best Practices for Keeping Your CMS Updated and Secure
A Content Management System (CMS) drives many websites as it offers the best creation, maintenance, and deployment of digital content for an expanding enterprise. However, CMS can be an issue if not regularly updated or if security patches are bypassed. When hackers realize a CMS version is vulnerable, they attempt to breach it, gaining entry into a system to steal information or shut down a website.
A secure and reliable headless CMS requires constant updating, specific log-in and access, and continuous monitoring. Thus, a business that requires a secure CMS will ensure that client information is kept private, the experience is overall more seamless, and compliance is easier. This article outlines all the necessary updates and security patches to keep a secure and reliable CMS.
Regularly Updating CMS Core, Plugins, and Themes
One of the quickest ways to eliminate security vulnerabilities is by keeping the headless CMS core software and plugins/themes up to date. Developers are always updating for security vulnerabilities, enhancements of functionality, and added features. Failing to keep current opens a portal of exploitation for sites that developers have already fixed, making these sites low-hanging fruit for hackers. For example, if a retail business has a WordPress CMS for its website, and the WordPress CMS is outdated, it opens the site to being hacked.
There are WordPress fail issues that have not yet been addressed, which give hackers the chance to enter the system and add in malware. If a site has a lot of pending updates, many security vulnerabilities can be prevented. By checking often or setting up automatic updates, any business will have the most secure system possible. In addition, plugins or themes that are no longer supported by developers are ones to avoid as well. An unsupported plugin—with or without updates is a vulnerability, and it should be changed for something that gets consistent updates.
Strengthening Authentication and Access Control
A headless CMS such as the one that Storyblok provides usually has multiple users with different access levels. From administrators and editors to simple content creators, everyone can be a guest on the CMS. However, without access controls, a standard user can be granted administrative privileges either accidentally or on purpose and delete information or leave the CMS open for attack or intentional editing. Access control authorization relies on authentication. The ultimate protection for a CMS is multi-factor authentication. Multi-factor authentication reduces the likelihood of an account being compromised because it requires another form of validation aside from a username and password.
These can include one-time passwords or biometric fingerprints. Furthermore, implement super admin access to only what is necessary. If many team members need access to a project, role-based access (RBAC) gives everyone access only to what their job requires. The fewer the super admin accounts, the fewer the chances of insider threats and accidental security misconfiguration. Furthermore, the company should have password policies in place to require complicated passwords capitalization, numbers, special characters and employees should be educated on changing their passwords regularly. The chances of credential compromise are minimized with password managers.
Using Secure Hosting and Encrypted Connections
A headless CMS is only as good as its hosting. Should a company choose a reliable hosting service that includes security (firewalls, DDoS protection, malware scanning along with proper backup solutions), the company can maintain a secure level from the very beginning. On the other hand, unreliable hosts are vulnerable and subject to server-level attacks, which leave a site vulnerable to hacks and shutdowns. Another major component of security is a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificate, which protects all information sent from users to the site from prying third-party eyes.
With SSL encryption, this allows a company to avoid handing over to hackers any passwords, compromised personal information, or credit card numbers during those vulnerable transactions. Companies that deal with sensitive customer information needing additional security may opt for a managed hosting service with built-in, automated security management. Managed hosting services are more likely to secure vulnerabilities, watch for nefarious activity, and perform security hardening so these companies don’t have to delegate duty.
Conducting Regular Security Audits and Vulnerability Assessments
Regular security audits and vulnerability scans uncover vulnerabilities in a headless CMS before a hacker gets the chance to exploit them. Security audits ensure correct user permissions, potential database corruption, and server configurations so that no unintended levels of access exist. For example, a content-managed eCommerce site should assess how often rogue administrators can access the CMS via security audits to avoid malicious penetration that could lead to poor choices. Thus, a content-managed eCommerce site wants to ensure that accidental charge transactions do not happen on the checkout function, so a vulnerability scan is regularly required.
Security plugins within the headless CMS and external vulnerability scanning websites provide assessments of malware injections, brute force login attempts, and unnecessary file permissions. Furthermore, simply keeping an eye on the CMS logs to check for oddities, surprising login attempts, changes in core files, individuals visiting the admin panel when they should not be granted visibility would keep a company apprised of its security. An apprised awareness of security would avoid a lot of exploits from escalating into a massive cybersecurity event.
Implementing a Reliable Backup Strategy
Fail-safe backup solution. Even with the most secure CMS, there’s always a chance that a hack or malfunctioning headless CMS occurs or even a wipe happens accidentally. A backup solution that is fail-safe ensures that no matter what type of catastrophic security issue occurs on the site, it can be restored with ease and no major downtime. Backup should be automatic and regular, off-site or an encrypted cloud solution. This ensures that even if the primary server is hacked, nothing is lost. A backup solution should encompass full database, full file, and full configuration backups for the CMS to guarantee that everything is restorable when needed.
For example, a headless CMS-centric, news-driven site and a digital asset manager are hacked and all posts are erased. They’ll be restored in a flash unless the backup from last night is still there. These types of restorations need to be regularly tested to confirm they are there and up to date.
Securing API Integrations and Third-Party Extensions
Many CMS have third-party applications, payment processors, and other services via API integrations for extended functionality. However, these integrations are potential weaknesses that hackers can infiltrate without proper security protocols. All API integrations should require secure authentication encrypted API keys and OAuth tokens and unauthenticated services should never have unrestricted access to sensitive data. Furthermore, only externally developed plug-ins and extensions should be used and those created by trusted developers and extensively vetted; antiquated, unpoliced third-party applications can open disastrous loopholes.
Of course, being a financial center, a headless CMS for investment and sourcing and getting reputable user information should have all third-party APIs and financial integrations assessed for security compliance to prevent data leaks or accidental purchases. By assessing and strengthening these external integrations, companies reduce the risk that additional vulnerabilities will penetrate the CMS ecosystem from the outside.
Monitoring and Responding to Cyber Threats
Yet regardless of how bulletproof a site may be, the ideal method of learning about and addressing cybersecurity weaknesses will always be preemptive and responsive awareness. Thus, companies need to adopt further real-time security monitoring to be notified of nefarious actions, unauthorized logins, and breaches. For example, a retail website’s enterprise content management system should include intrusion detection systems (IDS) and web application firewalls (WAF) to prevent accidental access from those who don’t belong or to prevent interactions with bots.
In addition, a cyber incident response plan ensures that there are trained protocols for rapid response if a breach were to happen. For instance, an incident response plan dictates that one must quarantine affected machines, roll back to backups, notify stakeholders, and determine how to prevent this from happening again. This level of understanding empowers organizations to be ahead of the game and mitigate as much destruction to their content management systems that cyber intrusions would create.
Conclusion
A maintained, safe CMS is not static. There are security updates, there is testing and debugging, and vulnerabilities are always there. Thus, for these enterprises that fail to secure their CMS systems, the chance for attacks is great resulting in breaches and costly downtime, which creates not only chaos in brand identity but in the company’s balance sheet. These measures minimize exposure and build a resilient, secure environment when organizations change default CMS files, update passwords, enhance server security, and engage in security audits.
Secure API integrations, knowledge of cybersecurity developments, and the ability to restore backups reliably, create a CMS more resistant to ever-increasing threats. A secure Content Management System essentially protects vital proprietary and customer data and keeps sites up and running with appropriate user confidence. Firms with a comprehensive Content Management System security strategy render their businesses transferable to the digital arena with more growth potential and less concern for cyber attacks.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About $37 million is being invested in Africa by Google to ensure the continent is not left behind in technology, with $7 million earmarked for Artificial Intelligence (AI) education in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa to support academic institutions and nonprofits building localized AI curricula, online safety training, and cybersecurity programs.
In addition, two new $1 million grants from Google.org aim to bolster AI research capacity across the continent.
One grant goes to the African Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AfriDSAI) at the University of Pretoria to support applied AI research and training. The other supports the Wits Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery (MIND) Institute in South Africa, which will fund MSc and PhD students to conduct foundational AI research and help shape Africa’s role in the global AI landscape.
Also, the tech giant is providing $25 million for an AI Collaborative for Food Security, which will bring together researchers, and nonprofit organizations to co-develop AI tools for early hunger forecasting, crop resilience, and tailored guidance for smallholder farmers.
The goal is to help make food systems across Africa more adaptive, equitable, and resilient in the face of increasing climate and economic shocks.
Further, the company is providing $3 million for Masakhane Research Foundation to support the development of high-quality datasets, machine translation models, and speech tools that make digital content more accessible to millions of Africans in their native languages.
To further empower innovation, Google is launching a catalytic funding initiative to support AI-driven startups tackling real-world challenges. This platform will combine philanthropic capital, venture investment, and Google’s technical expertise to help more than 100 early-stage ventures scale AI-based solutions in agriculture, healthcare, education, and other vital sectors. Startups will also receive mentorship, access to tools, and technical guidance to support responsible development.
Google has also launched an AI Community Centre in Accra for AI learning, experimentation, and collaboration in Africa. The facility will host training sessions, community events, and workshops focused on responsible AI development.
Its programming will span four pillars: AI literacy, community technology, social impact, and arts and culture — providing a platform for a diverse ecosystem of developers, students, and creators to engage with AI in ways that are grounded in African priorities.
To help meet the rising demand for AI and digital skills, Google is rolling out 100,000 Google Career Certificate scholarships for students in higher learning institutions across Ghana.
These fully funded, self-paced programs will focus on AI Essentials, Prompting Essentials, and other high-growth fields like IT Support, Data Analytics, and Cybersecurity — enabling more learners to access job-ready training and build careers in AI and the digital economy.
“Africa is home to some of the most important and inspiring work in AI today. We are committed to supporting the next wave of innovation through long-term investment, local partnerships, and platforms that help researchers and entrepreneurs build solutions that matter,” the Senior Vice President for Research, Labs, and Technology and Society at Google, Mr James Manyika, said.
Also, the Vice President of Engineering and Research at Google, Mr Yossi Matias, stated, “This new wave of support reflects our belief in the talent, creativity, and ingenuity across the continent. By building with local communities and institutions, we’re supporting solutions that are rooted in Africa’s realities and built for global impact.”
These days, people rely heavily on their mobile phones for talking, texting, banking, social media, and storing important personal information. Because of this, scammers and spammers often target phone users.
Mobile fraud, like fake SMS messages and scams, is becoming more common and putting millions at risk of losing money or having their private details stolen.
Airtel’s new AI-powered Spam Alert Service offers a smart and timely way to fight back, marking a major step forward in protecting mobile users in Africa.
A brief look at mobile fraud and spam
Mobile fraud and spam are problems around the world, but they hit harder in places where mobile phone use is growing fast, and safety measures haven’t caught up.
A 2024 report from GSMA Mobile Economy shows that more than 20% of mobile users globally have experienced some kind of mobile fraud, with spam texts being one of the most common.
In Nigeria, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has noted a sharp rise in scam messages and fake calls, leading to yearly losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
These spam texts often include fake links, harmful ads, or tricks to steal personal details. Many people get caught without knowing, which can lead to stolen bank money, identity theft, or damaged devices.
Older spam blockers only work on certain phones or apps, leaving many people, especially those using basic phones, without protection.
Why Airtel’s AI Spam Alert Service stands out
Airtel, a top telecom company in Africa, has launched a new and free service called the AI Spam Alert Service. It’s the first of its kind in Africa and aims to protect mobile users from spam text messages as they come in.
What makes this service different is that it doesn’t read or check the actual message content. Instead, it uses advanced artificial intelligence to quickly study the sender’s behaviour using over 250 signs or patterns, all within a fraction of a second.
Some of those parameters, according to Airtel, includes:
- How frequently the sender changes SIM cards.
- The volume and frequency of messages sent by the message initiator to different recipients.
- The geographical spread of the recipient numbers, whether messages are targeted locally or dispersed nationwide.
- Whether the sender receives replies or only sends messages.
- A cross-reference of numbers previously reported for spam activity.
The AI completes this analysis in just 2 milliseconds, faster than the blink of an eye, allowing real-time alerts to subscribers as suspected spam messages arrive.
How Airtel’s Spam Alert Service improves mobile safety and trust
Airtel’s new AI-powered spam alert system is set to make a big difference in mobile security across Nigeria and the rest of Africa. Instead of depending on users to block spam themselves, the service works directly through the network to stop suspicious messages before they reach people’s phones.
This kind of technology helps users feel safer and more confident using mobile networks—especially as more people rely on their phones for banking and other money-related services.
A 2025 report by McKinsey Digital shows that many Africans worry about mobile security when using digital financial tools. By reducing the risk of spam and fraud, Airtel is not only protecting its users but also helping to build a safer digital space where more people can take part in the growing mobile economy.
According to Airtel, within two months of its launch, the spam alert service system has identified 9,667,008 messages as potential spam.
Why this is a game changer
By building a service that is first-of-its-kind in Africa, Airtel is leading the way in offering spam alerts, powered by AI directly on its network, for over 150 million subscribers across the continent.
In addition, the service is quick, spotting suspicious sender activity in just milliseconds without reading users’ messages.
Finally, the service is free and requires no app downloads or extra setup. Airtel says the turns on automatically, making it easy for everyone to stay protected, even those using basic phones.
By sending signals to users before problems happen, Airtel boosts trust and encourages more people to safely use mobile money and other digital services.
Scammers are always finding new ways to trick consumers through the ubiquitous mobile phones, so increased demand for security improvements is, understandably, shifting to telecom companies. Airtel’s AI Spam Alert Service is a strong and timely move toward better, smarter protection for users. As more people start using the service, it should help cut down fraud, keep personal information safe, and make mobile use more enjoyable.
As African economies continue to grow more digital, users of telecom services will need more secure and reliable ways to communicate, and Airtel is leading the way towards that safe future.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The $150 million data centre established in Lagos by MTN Nigeria has been described by the federal government as a gamechanger because of it aligns with its digital economy agenda.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani, speaking during the unveiling recently in Ikeja, Lagos, said the facility supports the $1 trillion economy the current administration aims to build.
“An investment like this, the one we are here to launch, offers a platform for our young people to thrive. Enterprise-grade infrastructure like this, on our soil, gives startups, developers, and digital creators the ability to build and scale from Nigeria to the world.
“With this facility, MTN is reinforcing its position as Nigeria’s digital backbone. The data centre, named after the late Sifiso Dabengwa, a former CEO of MTN Nigeria and later Group Chief Operating Officer before his passing in September last year is being hailed as Nigeria’s largest prefabricated modular data centre
“It will deliver 4.5 MW in phase 1, with an additional 4.5 MW to be delivered in phase 2, which is expected to be completed soon,” he stated.
Mr Tijani noted that the MTN Data Centre would contribute to growing Nigeria’s economy by “unlocking productivity, hiring enterprise, and driving diversification through technological innovation and inclusion.”
The chief executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr Aminu Maida, represented by the Deputy Director for New Media and Information Security Department, Mr Babagaba Digima, praised MTN’s leadership in digital innovation.
“The commission remains committed to creating an environment that supports innovation while ensuring the highest standards of cybersecurity, data protection, and robust internet infrastructure. We will continue to work closely with operators to ensure that the deployment of critical infrastructure meets the high standards our digital economy deserves,” he stated.
Also, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said the facility “not only signifies MTN’s unwavering commitment to investing in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure but also reinforces the strategic importance of Lagos as a technology and innovation hub for the nation.”
“As we all know, data is the new oil, and cloud technology is the engine that drives it. With its Tier III facilities, MTN is raising the bar for secure, scalable, and efficient enterprise services, critical enablers for businesses, public services, and national as well as multinational corporations alike,” Mr Sanwo-Olu stated.
Also speaking, the chief executive of MTN Nigeria, Mr Karl Toriola, said, “We are committed to building locally managed, globally competitive digital platforms that will enable businesses to scale faster and engage more people in wide-ranging research and development.
“At MTN, we believe everyone, particularly Nigerians and Africans, deserves the benefits of a modern, connected life. We continue to push boundaries to make the humanly impossible, conceivable, feasible, and ultimately possible.”
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