In the fast-evolving world of global cybersecurity, one company is making confident strides to strengthen its footprint in some of the most dynamic markets outside North America and Europe. Censys, a widely respected internet intelligence platform provider, has appointed Meriam ElOuazzani as its first Vice President for the Middle East, Turkey and Africa region, known in industry circles as META. This leadership decision represents a major push by the firm to expand regional growth, deepen partner networks, and sharpen its focus on emerging threat intelligence needs across the three markets.
With cyber threats becoming increasingly sophisticated and high-impact, organisations in the Middle East, Turkey and Africa are under pressure to move beyond old defensive approaches. Modern security leaders are now seeking real-time visibility, actionable insights and dependable threat intelligence to confidently manage their digital environments. Censys’s appointment of ElOuazzani underlines the company’s belief that this market is at an inflexion point where technology demand and digital transformation intersect with a heavier need for proactive cybersecurity capabilities.
Meriam ElOuazzani brings deep regional insight and market-building experience
Meriam ElOuazzani arrives at Censys with more than 20 years of experience in cybersecurity and enterprise technology, having led teams, driven growth strategies and built regional business ecosystems across technology markets in the Middle East and beyond. She is widely respected for her ability to cultivate strong partner networks and drive scalable revenue growth in complex and competitive environments.
Her leadership journey includes key roles such as Senior Regional Director at SentinelOne, where she was credited with establishing the firm’s go-to-market operations in the region. Prior to that, ElOuazzani held influential positions at VMware, where she strengthened channel relationships and distribution networks across the Middle East and North Africa, and at Cisco Systems, where she led regional product sales. These roles helped her build a nuanced understanding of how technology ecosystems operate across diverse markets, from developed digital hubs to emerging economies.
In her new role at Censys, ElOuazzani will be responsible for driving end-to-end regional strategy covering revenue growth, partnerships, alliances and ecosystem building. She will also expand the company’s engagements with government entities, enterprise customers, managed security service providers (MSSPs) and hyperscaler partners. Her mandate includes sharpening Censys’s competitive edge as a trusted internet intelligence provider across META.
Regional intelligence demand rises amid shifting cybersecurity priorities
Security leaders in government and large organisations across the Middle East, Turkey and Africa are increasingly recognising the limitations of conventional perimeter defence tactics. The need for real-time threat detection, operational visibility and proactive risk management is driving demand for platforms that can support continuous monitoring and decision-ready insights. In response, Censys’s internet intelligence platform offers comprehensive mapping of internet-facing digital assets and threats, helping defenders stay ahead of adversary activity.
ElOuazzani has emphasised that the META region is poised for rapid cybersecurity maturity. Organisations today require more than traditional alerts and logs; they need authoritative insights that replace uncertainty with confidence. By equipping security teams with accurate, continuously updated information about their external digital footprint and exposure, Censys aims to help its customers shift from a reactive security mindset to one rooted in proactive intelligence.
This trend is not unique to one geography. Across Africa and the Middle East, governments and corporations alike are modernising their digital infrastructures while confronting complex cyber threats. Censys’s platform, with its combination of internet-scale attack surface mapping and advanced threat intelligence, gives organisations the tools to understand where vulnerabilities lie and how they may be exposed to exploitation. Its capabilities are especially vital as digital transformation accelerates across industries such as finance, telecommunications and critical infrastructure.
Censys strengthens local teams and partnerships to deliver regional impact
To support its accelerated META growth ambitions, Censys has also made additional leadership appointments in the region. Rajaee Al-Dalgamouni has been named Regional Sales Lead, and Ahmed Ehlayel will serve as Solutions Engineer under ElOuazzani’s leadership. These appointments are intended to strengthen the local presence and enhance customer engagement across strategic accounts, channel partners and government programmes.
The company’s regional strategy also includes deepening existing collaborations, such as its partnership with Rilian Technologies, which targets sovereign nations and critical infrastructure projects in the Middle East. Through these collaborations and new leadership investments, Censys is placing big bets on long-term engagement with customers and partners who are grappling with the realities of digital risk.
Market watchers say that Censys’s move reflects broader shifts in cybersecurity leadership and market dynamics. As threats continue to evolve, companies that can deliver high-quality threat intelligence and strong local support are likely to gain an edge. For clients in the META region, access to regional leadership with deep strategic expertise and a clear roadmap for growth could be a game-changer in how security problems are tackled and mitigated.
Through this strategic appointment and its expanded regional team, Censys is positioning itself for accelerated growth across the Middle East, Turkey and Africa. By combining strong technical capabilities with leadership that understands local market nuances, the company aims to bridge gaps between advanced threat intelligence technologies and the unique needs of organisations navigating the future of digital security.
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