French telecoms group Orange has officially launched a Cyberdefense operations centre in Casablanca, Morocco. The company already has centres established in Egypt and Mauritius in Africa, as well as in the US, Canada, India, Malaysia and Singapore globally.

Orange Cyberdefense is the company's expert cyber security business unit, providing managed security, managed detection and reaction, and threat intelligence services.

Leveraging the operations centre, cyberdefense experts offer solutions and services including consulting and penetration tests (Pentests), as well as protective and surveillance services.

Orange said the Morocco-based experts will have access to the expertise, methodologies and best practices housed within Orange Cyberdefense.

The Morocco operations centre was also established to train would-be cyber security engineers and collaborate with French engineering schools to help introduce these trained personnel to the market.

The objective is to recruit 50 local cyber security specialists by 2020.

Michel Van Den Berghe, CEO of Orange Cyberdefense said the new operations center will strengthen the company's position in the Moroccan market.

"It will also make Orange Cyberdefense Morocco the central hub to meet the needs of businesses in French-speaking African countries where the Orange Group is already present. Our goal is to become the leader for cyber security in French-speaking Africa," said Van Den Berghe.

The company described cyber security as a major challenge for African businesses.

"Africa is currently investing in the field of cybersecurity with a forecast that the market will grow from $1.33 billion in 2017 to $2.32 billion by 2020," the company stated.

In 2017 Orange Cyberdefense generated €275 million in total revenue and recorded an annual growth rate of over 20%.

Orange would not disclose the cost of setting up the Morocco centre.