Aicha Bouichou PhD student at the National School of Applied Sciences, Tangier
A
icha Bouichou is a PhD student
Her first job was an internship with a cybersecurity
researching blockchain technology at
startup in Rabat. This was followed by a consultancy
the National School of Applied Sciences
in Casablanca. “I learnt about penetration testing
in Tangier where she also teaches
tools, how to perform attacks and how to provide
engineers and masters students in
solutions to protect the whole information system,”
information security and software development.
she says.
If that were not enough to keep her busy, she
Her interest in cybersecurity dates from her
is also the founder and CEO of IT startup Gurzil
schooldays. “I was learning about security breaches
Technologies, the creation of which she describes
with my younger brother. At that time cybersecurity
as “one of the most satisfying achievements of
was not popular and nobody saw the importance of
my career.”
securing their data on the Internet. When I got the option to make it my daily work, I didn’t think twice.”
Gurzil is the name of an 11th-century north African deity, known as a protector, guide, and dispeller of
DREAMING OF A PHD
darkness. Bouichou says she and her co-founders
When Bouichou left school she decided to pursue
started the company, “because we believe we have
her interest in cybersecurity through a career in
enough talent in my country to create solutions for
academia. “Going for a PhD was crucial. It was a
our clients.”
dream come true for me and my family. If I could go back, I would do the same, but with more focus,” she
Prior to embarking on her PhD Bouichou completed
says. “Another important decision was to start my
a bachelor’s degree in software engineering and
company where I can connect with talented people,
a master’s in cybersecurity and cybercrime in
exchange ideas and learn more.”
her current school when she chose to focus on cryptocurrencies and smart contracts.
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W O M E N I N S E C U R I T Y M A G A Z I N E
S E P T E M B E R • O C T O B E R 2022
