Moroccan teams dominate international cybersecurity competition in Rabat

Saturday 20 September 2025 - 10:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Moroccan teams dominate international cybersecurity competition in Rabat

Moroccan teams have achieved a remarkable feat by securing the top three positions at the Standoff International Cyberbattle, organized by Russian cybersecurity firm Positive Technologies. The event was part of the Regional Cybersecurity Week held in Rabat from September 15 to 19 and showcased Morocco’s growing expertise in digital security.

A platform for global expertise

The competition brought together 38 specialists from the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia, challenging participants to simulate real-world offensive and defensive operations against digital infrastructures modeled on critical systems of a modern state. Morocco fielded five teams of four participants each, representing the General Directorate for Information Systems Security (DGSSI) and major universities.

The Moroccan teams excelled in detecting and neutralizing cyber threats in real time, claiming first, second, and third place. Ilya Leonov, Regional Director of Positive Technologies for the Middle East and North Africa, praised their “professionalism and potential,” emphasizing the importance of hands-on exercises to prepare specialists for securing critical sectors like energy, transport, and finance.

A growing reputation in cybersecurity

The Standoff competition, organized annually since 2016, has become a premier global event in cybersecurity. Its first international edition took place in Abu Dhabi in 2019 during HITB+CyberWeek, and it continues to attract top talent. Positive Technologies also organizes the Positive Hack Days festival in Moscow, the largest cybersecurity event globally. Its 2025 edition drew over 150,000 in-person participants and 180,000 online viewers from over 40 countries.

Alexey Andreev, Russia’s Trade Representative in Morocco, highlighted the potential for enhanced cooperation between the two nations in digital security. He emphasized the value of partnerships that include solution localization, joint development, and knowledge transfer as key to achieving digital sovereignty.

Regional ambitions and leadership

The cyberbattle was held under the theme “Digital Sovereignty for Sustainable Economic Development” and featured representatives from the DGSSI, the Regional Cybersecurity Center (RCC), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the OIC-CERT, and the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST).

Morocco’s stellar performance in the competition underscores its ambitions to lead in cybersecurity across Africa and the broader region. The country is positioning itself as a hub for digital resilience, setting benchmarks for sustainable economic development through secure technological innovation.