Digital resilience and autonomy are essential for a well-functioning government. According to Maarten Jonker, who serves as chair of the acceleration team for Priority 5 of the Netherlands’ Digitalisation Strategy (NDS), Increasing the government’s digital resilience and autonomy, these topics now impact virtually every aspect of public administration.
“Digital systems are indispensable for many government processes. That’s precisely why extra attention is needed to ensure continuity, reliability, and the ability to recover from disruptions.”
Ongoing focus and joint decision-making
Jonker, CIO of the Tax and Customs Administration at the Ministry of Finance, has long been involved with this topic. In various government roles, he has worked on issues related to dependencies and digital collaboration. This has given him a firsthand perspective on how the topic has evolved from a technical concern into a broad governance challenge.
Jonker states that digital resilience is now a concern beyond the IT department. “It impacts the core question of whether the government can continue to operate reliably and what this implies for the ongoing delivery of public services and their users.”
Resilience as a prerequisite for service delivery
Digital resilience is often associated with security, but Jonker highlights its broader scope. It involves not only safeguarding systems against attacks but also the capacity to withstand disruptions and rebound swiftly. “Resilience entails being ready for potential failures, which demands thorough planning and well-defined roles for handling system issues.”
He likens it to insurance. “You hope you’ll never need it, but you have to have it in place. That also means being willing to invest in it structurally, even if the benefits aren’t immediately visible.” This investment is “not optional, but essential,” especially as digital processes become more interconnected. Government organisations operate in chains and rely on shared infrastructure. “If one component is vulnerable, it can impact other organisations. That’s why resilience can no longer be considered in isolation; it must be addressed across the entire system.”
Autonomy means having the freedom to make choices
Alongside resilience, digital autonomy remains a vital aspect of this NDS priority. Jonker stresses that autonomy doesn’t mean the government must develop or manage everything by itself. “Full independence isn’t realistic, nor is it desirable. It’s about the terms on which we procure products. The market often advances more quickly in many sectors, is more innovation-driven, and can frequently deliver at lower costs than if the government were to handle everything alone.”
At its core, autonomy means something different. “It’s about being able to make choices and not being locked into dependencies you can’t escape. You need to know what you depend on, what that means, and what alternatives are available. Autonomy is also closely linked to other NDS priorities and interventions, as considerations about autonomy are equally relevant to areas like AI, Cloud, Data, and IT sourcing.”
This requires greater insight, more knowledge sharing, and more strategic decision-making. “We need to better understand which technologies are critical to government operations and how to maintain control over them. This means jointly investing in knowledge and resources, and agreeing on standards and contracts.”
Vulnerabilities often lie in the chain
According to Jonker, a significant part of the government’s vulnerability does not arise from individual organisations, but from the connections between them: the chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Government organisations collaborate within complex digital chains that involve extensive data exchange and interconnected systems. “That’s where the risks often emerge.”
This makes digital resilience and autonomy inherently a shared challenge. “An organisation can have its own security in order, but if the chain as a whole remains vulnerable, the problem persists. That’s why we need to address this across the entire government and at all levels of administration.”
Collaboration is essential, yet not a given
Strengthening resilience and autonomy requires close collaboration among government organisations, according to Jonker. This involves sharing resources, establishing common standards, and pooling expertise. “We don’t all need to reinvent the wheel. By working together, we can take faster and more effective steps.”
At the same time, he recognises that collaboration doesn’t happen automatically. Organisations have different priorities, timelines, and responsibilities. There is also a shortage of people with the right expertise. “Everyone feels the pressure, but resources are limited. That’s precisely why we need to make choices about what we do together and where we invest collectively.”
Jonker argues that viewing resilience not as a cost but as a prerequisite for continuity is helpful. “If systems fail or are vulnerable, the ultimate cost is far higher. It’s not a luxury, it’s a much-needed investment.”
Impact on services and citizens
For years, Jonker has seen firsthand how crucial digital resilience is in everyday work. Disruptions or vulnerabilities in systems directly affect services and the citizens who rely on the government. “This makes the issue very tangible. It’s not about theoretical risks, but real situations that can and do occur.”
He believes that practical experience makes discussions about resilience more concrete. “Sharing examples and showing what occurs when issues arise clarifies why this is so important.”
From awareness to action
Jonker notes that the discussion around digital resilience and autonomy has shifted in recent years. It’s less about whether it’s important and more about what needs to be done. “The focus is no longer on why, but on how.”
Until summer, the focus will be on turning this priority into concrete steps. Whether through joint initiatives, boosting knowledge and capacity, or setting clear standards and provisions. “We must turn it into something tangible, covering both strategy and execution.”
A resilient government is a joint responsibility
Ultimately, this priority is about how the government functions as a whole. “Digital resilience and autonomy are essential for the government to operate effectively in an increasingly digital society.” Jonker stresses that this requires collective responsibility. “No organisation can do this alone. Only by working together, sharing knowledge, and making decisions, we can maintain the government’s digital resilience autonomous.”
