Morocco has appointed General Abdellah Boutrik as the new head of the General Directorate of Information Systems Security (DGSSI). The agency is responsible for safeguarding Morocco’s critical information infrastructure and advancing national cybersecurity strategies.
The decision comes as Moroccan institutions face rising cyberattacks, including incidents targeting banking, energy, and public administration sectors. In the past year alone, authorities recorded 644 documented cyberattacks, with 134 requiring direct intervention to mitigate damage.
The appointment is seen as a strategic move to reinforce Morocco’s cyber defence capabilities amid a surge in sophisticated threats.
As we speak, the DGSSI is preparing an updated national cybersecurity strategy. The plan will focus on enhancing digital resilience, coordinating with public and private entities, and modernising response capabilities.
Morocco Under Attack
Morocco has prioritized its cybersecurity since 2011, establishing the DGSSI as a national authority, creating a Strategic Cybersecurity Committee, and enacting a dedicated cybersecurity law.
Nonetheless, challenges such as limited specialised expertise, outdated infrastructure in key sectors, and restricted budgets for advanced threat monitoring are weakening the country’s digital security despite initial efforts.
Recent reports have highlighted Morocco’s exposure to emerging malware strains, with cybersecurity firm Cleafy identifying the country as the most targeted in Africa by the PlayPraetor malware. Interpol has also ranked Morocco among the continent’s most exposed states to cyber intrusions.
Recently, Morocco was counted among the countries where the Playpraetor malware — a malicious program that seeks to steal sensitive financial credentials — was prevalent.
Subsequently, the country has fallen victim to several attacks in 2025, including an attack on the National Agency for Land Conservation, Cadastre, and Cartography (ANCFCC) and the National Social Security Agency (CNSS).
With the appointment of Abdellah Boutrik, Morocco aspires to strengthen their defense mechanism these attacks.
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