Digital threat against the Netherlands is rising and diversifying, is one of the main observations of the Cyber Security Assessment Netherlands (CSAN) 2024. This annual report by the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV) summarises the current increase in digital risks. It also emphasises on the importance of a broad perspective on risk management; simple standardisations and basic measures are no longer sufficient.
Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg, National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security, says a key finding is that state actors are intensifying their cyber activities and broadening capabilities. “The pace and complexity of state cyber campaigns is increasing. They are deploying other players, such as companies or hacktivists, to carry out digital attacks, blurring boundaries between organisations. For example, individuals fulfilling a scientific role might simultaneously be affiliated with an intelligence agency.”
Large-scale system failures
In addition to targeted cyberattacks, the report warns of the danger of large-scale system failures. Incidents, such as the global CrowdStrike outage, demonstrate how depending on a limited number of digital providers may cause vulnerabilities. The July 2024 outage caused 8.5 million computers worldwide to stop functioning. This affected essential services such as public transportation and medical care. The NCTV also warns of the global trade in sensitive, personal data and the limited cyber security capacity and personnel.
Cyber Security Strategy
In 2022, the Cabinet presented the Dutch Cyber Security Strategy (NLCS), aiming to create a digitally secure and resilient Netherlands. Simultaneously to the CSAN 2024, a progress report of the NLCS (Dutch version) was sent to the House of Representatives. This action plan addresses the challenges outlined in the report. The NCTV highlights that a coordinated approach is essential to mitigate future cyber incidents and potential risks to our national security.
Read the full Cybersecurity Assessment Netherlands 2024 on the NCTV website. A summary is also available: Cybersecurity Assessment Netherlands 2024 in a Nutshell
