Morocco’s cybersecurity strategy is placing greater emphasis on proactive threat detection, critical infrastructure protection and artificial intelligence as the country strengthens its defenses against evolving cyber threats. Abdellatif Loudiyi, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of National Defense Administration, said securing information systems has become a necessity as digital transformation accelerates. Speaking at the opening of National Cybersecurity Week in Rabat on Monday, Loudiyi stressed that cybersecurity must be integrated into institutional governance rather than treated as an additional expense. He called for stronger preparedness, early threat detection and coordinated responses to cyber incidents. The event, organized by the General Directorate of Information Systems Security under the National Defense Administration, runs from October 12 to 14 under the theme “Cybersecurity in the service of digital transformation and development.”

Morocco Cybersecurity Strategy Emphasizes Proactive Defense

Loudiyi said cyberattacks have become a tangible reality affecting countries worldwide, including developed nations. Their consequences have raised awareness among public and private institutions about the importance of cybersecurity in managing risks and protecting operations. He argued that organizations can no longer rely on responding to incidents after they occur. Instead, they need an approach centered on preparedness, vigilance, early detection, and response. According to the minister, these responsibilities must begin at the highest levels of institutional decision-making and extend across organizations, with each component accountable for its role. He also emphasized that cybersecurity resilience requires continuous work. As attackers develop new methods, institutions must regularly review protection measures, assess system readiness, and adapt their defenses to emerging threats.

Five Pillars to Strengthen National Cybersecurity

The minister outlined five interconnected areas supporting Morocco’s efforts to establish a coordinated national cybersecurity framework. These include a clear legal and regulatory framework, the development of human, technical and financial capabilities, greater public awareness and a stronger cybersecurity culture, enhanced monitoring and response capabilities, and regional and international cooperation. Loudiyi stressed that these elements must function together to strengthen national resilience. He also highlighted the shared responsibilities of government authorities and organizations operating information systems. While the General Directorate of Information Systems Security exercises its legally defined powers, individual system owners must protect their systems and allocate the resources required to do so. The minister said this integration of responsibilities is essential to building a cohesive national cybersecurity system.

AI Threats and Critical Infrastructure Protection Take Priority

Looking ahead, Loudiyi identified four priorities for the next phase of Morocco’s cybersecurity efforts: training specialized cybersecurity professionals, supporting national cybersecurity companies, strengthening critical infrastructure protection, and addressing the challenges associated with artificial intelligence. He described artificial intelligence in cybersecurity as a dual-use capability that can benefit both attackers and defenders. While attackers can use AI to support malicious activities, defenders can apply the technology to detect threats earlier and accelerate incident response. The emphasis on specialized training also reflects the need to develop the expertise required to address increasingly complex cybersecurity challenges. Supporting national companies is another priority identified by the minister as part of the broader effort to strengthen the country's capabilities. Loudiyi said these priorities should help Morocco prepare not only for existing threats but also for risks that may emerge as technologies and attack methods evolve.

Morocco Calls for Stronger International Cybersecurity Cooperation

Loudiyi also highlighted the role of cybersecurity cooperation in strengthening national defenses. He said Morocco remains committed to initiatives and mechanisms that promote collaboration between countries, with particular attention to its African and Arab partners. He presented cybersecurity as a shared responsibility requiring coordination, investment in skills and a sustained culture of awareness and vigilance. The minister concluded that a secure digital environment depends on collective efforts to protect information systems and maintain trust as digital transformation advances. National Cybersecurity Week provides a platform for these discussions through roundtables and workshops involving decision-makers, cybersecurity experts and industry professionals. The October 12 to 14 program is intended to encourage dialogue and the exchange of views on key cybersecurity challenges and approaches to addressing them.

Cyble, a global AI-native cybersecurity company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Cyber Security Council of the United Arab Emirates to strengthen national threat intelligence capabilities. The agreement was announced in Abu Dhabi in September 2026 and formalizes a strategic collaboration between Cyble and the federal entity responsible for strengthening the UAE's cybersecurity posture.

The MOU marks a significant milestone in Cyble's engagement with the UAE's national cybersecurity ecosystem, bringing together a global cybersecurity provider and a national authority tasked with protecting the country's digital environment.

Focus on National Threat Intelligence

The MOU establishes a framework for Cyble to support the Council's mission of protecting the UAE's digital infrastructure. The collaboration centers on delivering advanced threat intelligence, early warning capabilities, and actionable insights into emerging cyber risks facing government and critical infrastructure entities across the country. These focus areas are intended to help the Council anticipate and respond to threats before they escalate into significant incidents.

The partnership reflects the UAE's continued commitment to building a resilient, forward-looking cybersecurity posture at the national level. It also positions Cyble as a trusted technology partner in that effort.

By working closely with the Council, Cyble aims to strengthen visibility into threat actors, malicious campaigns, and vulnerabilities that could affect the UAE's most critical systems and services. This visibility is expected to support the Council's broader objective of maintaining a secure and stable digital environment for government and critical infrastructure operators.

Leadership Statements on the MOU

Beenu Arora, CEO and Co-Founder of Cyble, described the agreement as more than a routine partnership announcement. He called it a strategic validation of Cyble's capabilities at the national cybersecurity level and a potential gateway to the UAE government and critical infrastructure ecosystem. This is not just a partnership announcement. It is a strategic validation of Cyble's capabilities at the national cybersecurity level and potentially a gateway to the UAE government and critical-infrastructure ecosystem," said Arora.

Arora added that working alongside the Cyber Security Council underscores the trust placed in Cyble's threat intelligence platform and reflects the growing importance of proactive, intelligence led defense in protecting nations against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Chairman of the Cyber Security Council of the United Arab Emirates, said the Council is committed to building strategic partnerships with world class technology providers that strengthen the UAE's cyber resilience at every level. He noted that the MOU with Cyble reflects a shared commitment to safeguarding the nation's digital infrastructure through advanced threat intelligence and proactive, intelligence led defense, ensuring the UAE remains at the forefront of global cybersecurity readiness.

"This MOU with Cyble reflects our shared commitment to safeguarding the nation's digital infrastructure through advanced threat intelligence and proactive, intelligence-led defense — ensuring the UAE remains at the forefront of global cybersecurity readiness," said Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti.

The agreement builds on Cyble's broader strategy of deepening engagement with government and regulatory bodies across the Middle East. It reinforces the company's position as a trusted partner to national cybersecurity authorities navigating an increasingly complex threat landscape, and it adds to a growing list of engagements between Cyble and public sector organizations in the region.

Role of Cyble Vision and Blaze AI

Cyble Vision, the company's threat intelligence platform powered by Blaze AI, will play a central role in the collaboration. The platform is designed to deliver rapid detection, automated analysis, and contextual insights into ransomware, phishing, fraud, and other evolving threats relevant to national security priorities. Through this platform, Cyble intends to provide the Council with tools that support faster identification and analysis of threats targeting the UAE's digital infrastructure.

Cyble is a global, AI-native cybersecurity company specializing in threat intelligence, digital risk protection, and dark web monitoring. Its flagship platform, Cyble Vision, powered by Blaze AI, delivers rapid threat detection, automated analysis, and contextual insights into ransomware, phishing, and fraud.

Media Contacts: enquiries@cyble.com | +1 678 379 3241 | www.cyble.com

Nearly four in 10 UK small firms were hit by a successful cyberattack in the past year, according to the latest Hiscox Cyber Readiness Report. The UK cyberattack rate reached 38%, significantly above the 29% global average recorded among nearly 7,000 smaller businesses surveyed worldwide.

The 10th annual report surveyed cybersecurity decision-makers at smaller firms, including 1,000 respondents in the UK. Britain recorded the highest attack rate among the markets included in the research. Globally, businesses that experienced an incident reported an average of four attacks during the past 12 months.

UK cyberattack Rate Outpaces Global Average

The findings place UK small businesses at greater exposure to successful cyberattacks than their international counterparts. While 29% of organisations globally reported a successful attack, the figure rose to 38% among small UK businesses.

The report also found that cyber incidents are creating measurable financial and operational costs. Globally, each incident cost organisations an average of $52,000 and resulted in around 32 hours of operational disruption.

In the UK, the average cost per cyberattack was $35,908, equivalent to £26,650. Although that figure was below the global average, the higher frequency of attacks means UK firms are more likely to encounter those costs.

The global attack rate also fell from the 59% figure reported in Hiscox's previous annual report. However, the two figures are not directly comparable because last year's research surveyed a broader group of 5,750 businesses across seven markets, while this year's report focuses specifically on almost 7,000 smaller firms.

Cyber Incidents Affect Business Growth

Cyber incidents are also influencing business decisions beyond immediate recovery costs. Globally, 32% of affected firms said cyber incidents delayed growth and expansion plans.

Other reported consequences included higher staffing costs for 31% of businesses, direct financial damage for 30%, and lost business opportunities for 29%.

Reputation and customer trust ranked as the most significant cyber-related risk, cited by 48% of businesses surveyed. Operational downtime or business interruption followed at 46%, while supply chain or third-party disruption was identified by 44%.

Among firms that experienced an incident, 28% faced financial penalties and 26% experienced damaging publicity.

UK Firms Increase Cyber Resilience Spending

Businesses are responding to the continuing threat by increasing spending on cyber resilience. The global average investment reached $51,000, with firms directing spending toward new technology, specialist staff and employee training.

New technology was adopted by 51% of firms, while 55% invested in specialist staff and 62% updated employee training.

UK businesses reported considerably higher spending, averaging $59,700, or £44,294, on cyber resilience. That placed the UK third among the markets surveyed for resilience spending.

The report also identified a growing connection between cybersecurity performance and executive compensation. Globally, 32% of firms said executive pay is now linked to cybersecurity performance. Among UK small firms, the figure was 25%.

Cyber Insurance Gap Remains

The findings also highlight a continuing gap between cybersecurity exposure and insurance uptake in the UK. Government data from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology shows that 10% of UK businesses and 5% of charities hold a dedicated cyber insurance policy.

Separate research cited in the report found that just over 40% of UK SMEs hold cyber insurance, compared with around 63% of medium-sized firms and approximately 70% of FTSE 100 companies.

The latest Hiscox findings therefore show a combination of high cyberattack exposure, substantial investment in cyber resilience, and relatively limited cyber insurance uptake among UK businesses.