The national government remains vulnerable to both acute and prolonged disruptions to ICT services. This is confirmed by findings from the report From Vulnerable to Resilient (in Dutch Van kwetsbaar naar weerbaar), commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK). Based on the report’s recommendations, steps are now being taken to improve the continuity of essential digital services.
The Netherlands is a digital frontrunner in Europe. However, this leading position also brings increased vulnerability. Key sectors such as healthcare, security, and the judiciary are heavily reliant on external ICT providers, meaning a single disruption can have serious consequences for both citizens and businesses.
Turning the report into action
The researchers put forward several recommendations to further strengthen the government’s digital resilience. These form the foundation of a new action plan, focused on delivering practical and lasting improvements, including:
- Establishing an IT Sourcing Competence Centre to pool expertise and support government bodies in making strategic procurement decisions.
- Exploring fallback arrangements to ensure continuity of essential operations in the event of an emergency.
- Updating the government-wide IT sourcing strategy, with a clear focus on risk assessment and operational continuity.
- Introducing centralised monitoring to proactively track suppliers and market developments, allowing for early intervention in the event of ICT disruptions.
