Casablanca to Host Africa Cybersecurity Summit

Rabat – nexaya, a German company specializing in cybersecurity, software engineering, technology consulting, and nexaya Dynamic -an inovation-related service – is teaming up with Emec Expo to host the Africa Cybersecurity Summit in Casablanca on May 10 and 11.

Under the theme “Digital Africa: The Impact of Cybersecurity,” the summit aims to provide a “unique opportunity” for financial stakeholders, particularly banks and insurance companies, to stay up to date on the latest trends and products in cybersecurity.

With experts from Germany, Morocco, Israel, and Egypt, the summit also offers a platform for renowned professionals in the field of cybersecurity to share their experiences and discuss best practices for digital security.

Attendees will be able to attend presentations, panel discussions, and cybersecurity product demonstrations.

The Africa Cybersecurity Summit also serves as a vital networking and collaboration opportunity, allowing participants to connect with like-minded individuals and explore potential partnerships.

The summit aims to raise awareness among financial actors of the increasing risks of cyberattacks and provide them with the knowledge and tools necessary to protect themselves effectively.

Commenting on the event’s announcement, nexaya Managing Director Rachid Boutachdat said, “We are excited to collaborate with Emec Expo to organize this cybersecurity event that will bring together professionals and experts in the industry, and promises to be a unique opportunity to discover the best practices and the latest technologies.”

On his part, Emec Expo’s Mohammed Amine Moukriss stated, “We look forward to seeing the positive results of this event dedicated to digital security in Africa, which offers new perspectives.”

The emerging cyberthreat

New research findings have indicated that Morocco was among the top five countries globally with the highest rates of malware attacks in 2020. Shockingly, almost 23% of Moroccan mobile users reportedly experienced at least one malware attack during that year.

The alarming report further suggests that Moroccans are particularly unconcerned with cybersecurity, with only 8% of respondents in a survey using antivirus software.

These findings come as cyberattacks, cyberwarfare, and cyber-terrorism are emerging as major global threats. In 2020, the World Bank ranked cyberattacks as the fifth biggest threat facing the modern world.

Over the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has driven a rapid increase in internet penetration rates and the global digital transition. Unfortunately, this has also created the perfect storm for cyberwarfare.

As businesses were forced to shift to digital operations almost overnight, cyberattacks increased by a staggering 600% worldwide during the pandemic, according to data from Purplesec, a leading data firm in the field.