The state-of-the-art facility is designed to empower partners and resellers to move beyond traditional distribution, providing the immersive, hands-on environment needed to architect and deploy cloud and AI solutions tailored specifically to African market needs.

Through the Centre, partners will be onboarded to a structured journey that guides them in securing official Google Cloud accreditation and certification.

Beyond technical training provided by both Liquid C2 and Google, the centre will also serve as a collaborative hub, allowing them to work alongside specialist engineers to architect bespoke solutions.

Once finalised, these solutions will be brought to market through Liquid’s robust distribution network.

This expansion not only opens new commercial avenues for partners but also acts as a catalyst for high-value job creation and the rapid maturation of Africa’s technology ecosystem.

The Partner Experience Centre provides the partner and reseller ecosystem in Africa with direct access to enterprise-grade technologies such as Gemini Enterprise, and the “Gemini Playspace” for rapid AI experimentation.

It also provides specialist expertise to prototype, test, and scale digital solutions in real-world environments.

The centre is a testament to Liquid C2’s commitment to strengthening its role within the partner ecosystem in Africa, as it supports partners in overcoming infrastructure constraints, skills gaps, and complexity barriers that often slow digital transformation efforts across the continent.

As demand for advanced digital capabilities grows, the Partner Experience Centre serves as an innovation hub where enterprises, startups, academic institutions, developers, and public-sector stakeholders can co-create locally-relevant solutions, fostering a sense of shared progress and community across Africa.

The facility also provides industry-specific platforms tailored to sectors including financial services, healthcare, and retail. These platforms demonstrate how AI-enabled solutions can reduce operational risk, improve efficiency, enhance customer engagement, and unlock new growth opportunities across African markets.

“At Cassava Technologies, we believe the future of Africa’s digital transformation will be shaped through strong ecosystems that combine global innovation with local infrastructure and expertise,” said Ziaad Suleman, senior vice president, Cassava Technologies and CEO, South Africa & Botswana.

“The Partner Experience Centre powered by Google Cloud creates a practical environment where organisations can explore, test, and scale solutions that deliver real business value. By combining our infrastructure, expertise, and continental reach with Google Cloud’s advanced technologies, we are helping to democratise access to AI and cloud capabilities for enterprises across Africa.”

“This is a pivotal moment in our commitment to Africa’s digital future,” said Tara Brady, president, Google Cloud EMEA. “The Partner Experience Centre is a testament to our belief in the power of a strong partner ecosystem. By combining our advanced AI capabilities, including our Gemini models, with Liquid C2’s localised expertise, we are not just building a facility; we are building a hub for innovation that will empower businesses, create jobs, and deliver the benefits of digital transformation to every corner of the continent.”

The collaboration will focus on three core pillars of transformation:

• Accelerated Partner Enablement: The centre acts as a dedicated Proof-of-Concept (PoC) hub designed to dismantle historical market barriers. It provides localised training, hands-on technology interaction, and business support, leveraging Liquid’s capabilities to offer local currency billing and credit to manage financial complexity for resellers.
• AI and Technology Innovation: A primary focus is empowering partners to build and deploy advanced AI solutions. The facility features a dedicated “Gemini Playspace & AI Solutions” to certify technical staff, alongside integrated “Solutions Pods” where partners can demonstrate complete technology stacks to win complex enterprise bids.
• Economic Growth and Job Creation: The partnership is a direct investment in Africa’s tech workforce. By strategically broadening the partner network, the initiative will foster deep, localised expertise and act as a catalyst for new economic opportunities, creating a significant ripple effect of job creation for certified engineers and other tech professionals across the continent.

As a business of Cassava Technologies, Liquid C2 has always been at the forefront of bringing cutting-edge digital technologies to African businesses, both directly and through its partner ecosystem.

This first-of-its-kind Partner Experience Centre is yet another milestone that reflects the company’s commitment to partnerships that leverage its continental footprint to serve a broader base of organisations.

Aligned with this, Cassava continues to expand digital inclusion across Africa through its integrated portfolio of connectivity, cloud, cyber security, and digital solutions, ensuring that a broad spectrum of organisations, regardless of size or sector, can access and benefit from advanced technologies, thereby enabling more inclusive participation in Africa’s digital economy.

Building on the November 2023 signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a collaboration with Google Cloud in Africa, Liquid C2 is set to improve cyber security and cloud offerings across the continent while introducing them to Google Cloud’s latest AI, data, collaboration, and security solutions.

Customers of Liquid C2 can expect heightened security measures, access to advanced cloud technologies, and a commitment to securing their digital assets.

Liquid C2 is set to be one of Google Cloud’s largest Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) in Africa, combining Google Cloud’s leading security solutions with Liquid C2’s expertise and vision in offering comprehensive security consulting.

In addition, the collaboration enables Liquid C2 to bring the capabilities of both Google Cloud and Anthropic’s AI models to its customers via Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform1, helping businesses develop and deploy solutions quickly within their cloud environments.

As a strategic partner of Google Cloud’s innovative solutions in Africa, Liquid C2 will also deliver Google Workspace to customers across the continent. Designed to facilitate team connections in a cloud-native environment, Google Workspace also features embedded generative AI tools to help employees create content and achieve greater productivity and collaboration in the workplace.

By fortifying cyber security measures and infusing gen AI capabilities, Liquid C2 envisions a future where security, collaboration, and innovation go hand-in-hand, creating a safer, more productive digital experience for all.

As Africa continues to emerge as a hub for technological advancements, collaboration between leading companies like Liquid C2, Google Cloud, and Anthropic play a crucial role in driving progress, fostering innovation, and attracting global investment.

In a separate but related development, Liquid C2 is also working directly with Anthropic, one of the largest and fastest-growing AI companies globally, to develop AI solutions for large enterprises that want to use it to improve productivity and revenue growth.

Anthropic has a strategic partnership with Google Cloud, and Claude – Anthropic’s family of foundational AI models that excel at thoughtful dialogue, content creation, complex reasoning, creativity, and coding – is available in Google Cloud’s Vertex AI.

Liquid C2’s partnership with Anthropic signifies a shared commitment to empowering businesses in Africa with state-of-the-art AI solutions.

By integrating AI models and services across various industries, Liquid C2 and Anthropic aim to accelerate growth for clients, further positioning Africa as a global player in the digital landscape. The collaboration presents opportunities to apply gen AI to African businesses irrespective of the industry or organisation size.

Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud said,

“Businesses are increasingly turning to generative AI to drive operational efficiencies, improve the customer experience, and empower their employees like never before. Building on Google’s commitment to investing $1 billion to boost Africa’s digital transformation, our collaborations with market leaders like Liquid C2 and Anthropic will help bring gen AI, security, and other cloud technologies to businesses across the continent. This partnership has the opportunity to transform how African businesses serve and engage their customers as we provide them a foundation for innovation.”

Currently, more than 80% of the largest businesses and organisations operating in more than      31 African countries use a broad spectrum of advanced digital technologies from Liquid supplied by global vendors. Many are keenly interested in moving AI readiness. Liquid C2 will remain a multi-vendor provider, offering its customers best-in-class solutions.

Commenting on the collaboration, Strive Masiyiwa, co-founder and executive chairman of Cassava Technologies, said,

“Our collaborations with Google Cloud and Anthropic signify a significant step change in our journey as Africa’s leading cloud and cyber security provider. We recognise the importance of responsible AI in enabling access to economic opportunities and empowering individuals and businesses across the continent. Our partnerships with these two leading technology firms will help us deliver AI-powered solutions that address the unique challenges and opportunities in Africa’s digital transformation journey. Together, we are setting new benchmarks for these solutions that cater to the complex needs of a diverse clientele.”

Daniela Amodei, president of Anthropic, said:

“We’re excited to partner with Liquid C2 and Google Cloud, bringing frontier AI to businesses across Africa. Combining Anthropic’s safe, steerable AI with Google Cloud’s secure, scalable infrastructure means this partnership has huge potential to enable African companies to grow.”

“Zambia’s ongoing digital transformation has seen businesses increase their online service adoption to serve the growing cyber-population, meaning Zambian businesses are becoming increasingly high-risk targets for cyber-attacks. Our Cyber Security Fusion Centre will provide businesses with timeous responses to mitigate these attacks successfully, ensuring that their business is prepared to face current and even future threats,” said David Behr, CEO of Liquid C2.

In Zambia’s case, government research shows that 2021 saw over 10 million cyber attacks on citizens and businesses, including mobile money reversal scams, social media account hijacking, and fake product promotions and investment schemes. Zambia’s Minister of Technology and Science, Hon. Felix Mutati, announced last year that an increase in cybercrime is among the country’s biggest threats.

“Launching Liquid C2’s third Cyber Security Fusion Centre in Zambia is critical in safeguarding the country’s digital economy. Adding the Cyber Security Fusion Centre to the country’s cyber security infrastructure will strengthen our ability to protect vital small businesses from increasing cybercrime threats, as it focuses on bolstering the growth of the small businesses sector. The Centre will offer comprehensive cyber security services, including threat intelligence, detection, and incident response, customised to meet the requirements of businesses in Zambia. By providing these services, Liquid C2 aims to enable businesses of all sizes to concentrate on their growth without worrying about the escalating cyber security risks,” said Mark Townsend, CEO of Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Zambia. 

This centre will prove invaluable in Liquid C2’s efforts to ensure Zambian customers have access to real-time intelligence-driven alerts and advisory services, enabling them to mitigate potential threats timeously. Most importantly, customers can focus on their critical business needs, while Liquid manages their customers’ cyber security requirements 24/7/365 with the most cost-efficient and effective approach.

The Zambian CSFC is the third in the matrix of security centres to be launched by Liquid C2 in Africa. The centres are designed to allow the organisation an increasing oversight and understanding of the cyber threats its customers face in real-time. Liquid C2 relies on the data gathered from all the CFSCs  and manages every element of cyber protection using this intelligence to build a mesh to identify, mitigate and protect businesses across the continent

The new CSFC is also a beacon that raises awareness about the vital need for cyber security for all businesses. The Centre also stands as a key pillar in Zambia’s economic growth plans as it continues its digital transformation journey. Therefore, there is a real need for enterprises, governments, and citizens to be aware of the dangers of operating in the online space and arm themselves with the ability to mitigate cyber threats.

Liquid C2 is committed to playing a role in strengthening cyber security offerings in Zambia, and with the launch of this CSFC, the organisation is better placed to assist customers in real-time and enable them to be proactive rather than reactive in today’s complex cyber security landscape.  

This double honor from Cloudflare reiterates Liquid C2’s commitment to skill growth, sales contribution, and bringing the best-in-class solutions to customers on the African continent.

David Behr, CEO of Liquid C2, commented on this recognition, “The partnership with Cloudflare has been a tremendous success for our customers as we can deliver more customized cyber security solutions, improve customer service, and create long-term relationships with customers.

This award emphasizes the power of collaboration between Cloudflare and Liquid C2 as we help our customers safeguard their operations and continue their digital transformation journeys”.

In the last year, the collaboration between Liquid C2 and Cloudflare has helped enterprises and SMEs understand the importance of investing in cybersecurity solutions considering the ever-growing threat landscape. This award is a competitive, worldwide recognition of excellence among cyber security partners and is a testament to the work undertaken to deliver people-centric, secure workplaces.

Despite being a relatively young player in the cybersecurity industry, Liquid C2 has demonstrated a deep understanding of the requirements of its African customers. The organization was the first African company to launch a matrix of Cyber Security Fusion Centres in Africa.

Through its strategic partnerships with international players like Microsoft, Oracle, and AWS, Liquid C2 understands how to create cloud solutions that deliver our customers’ every business need.

“Liquid C2 team is proud of this recognition as the 2022 Partner of the Year Award, and it will help us to continue our vision of a digitally connected future that leaves no African behind.” Our cyber security experts are here to give your business the robust protection it needs. “Whatever your business challenge is, we’ll C2 it,” Behr concluded.

Liquid C2, a business of Cassava Technologies, a pan-African technology group, opened the doors of its first Cyber Security Fusion Centre (CSFC) in Nairobi, Kenya, making this the second centre of its kind in Africa.

“Kenyan businesses have seen increased digital adoption, and the country’s connected population in early 2021 was nearly 22 million.

The increased number of digitally transformed businesses and individuals means that the target pool for malicious entities is also becoming wider. As a result, we have witnessed immense interest from customers wanting to partner with us to benefit from the services our Fusion Centre offers in South Africa. And now, we have brought the same expertise to Kenya’s ever-growing digitally connected population. Through our matrix of Fusion Centres, Liquid C2 will predict, prevent, detect and respond to cyberattacks that target our customers,” said David Behr, CEO of Liquid C2.

The last few years have seen a rapid acceleration in cyberattacks, with Africa squarely in the crosshairs of cybercriminals. As businesses continue to evolve digitally, so has the scale of cyber threats. According to the Global Cybersecurity Index (2021), only 29 of 54 African countries have introduced cyber security legislation.

In addition, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) reported that cyber threats in the country have doubled in the current financial year starting July 2021.

This centre will prove invaluable in our efforts to ensure our Kenyan customers have access to real-time intelligence-driven alerts and advisory services, enabling them to mitigate potential threats timeously. Most importantly, customers can focus on their critical business needs while we manage their cyber security requirements 24/7/365 with the most cost-efficient and effective approach.

“The Government of Kenya understands the critical role played by ICT in making Kenya a digital economy. And this ICT infrastructure is critical and deserving of protection. The launch of this Fusion Centre is our initiative to highlight that we are aligned with the Government’s ambitions to provide cyber protection as they build Kenya’s digital super highway for the empowerment of every citizen with information and opportunities,” said Adil El Youssefi, CEO of Liquid Intelligent Technologies Kenya.

Clients in Kenya will reap the benefits from a host of new Cyber Security services that leverage Microsoft Defender and Microsoft Sentinel – all delivered and constantly monitored, without interruption, twenty-four-seven the entire year. In addition, Liquid C2 has partnered with Xcitium to offer solutions specifically for small and medium businesses requiring Security Operation Centre (SOC) services without investing in highly skilled resources or Enterprise SOC services they cannot afford.

Raising awareness about the vital necessity of cyber security is not only beneficial for clients. It is also a key pillar in Kenya’s economic growth as the country continues to undergo digital transformation. Liquid C2 is committed to playing a role in this, and with the launch of this Fusion Centre, the organisation is better placed to assist customers in real time and enable them to be proactive rather than reactive in today’s complex cyber security landscape.