Administrators, managers, and staff must be aware of digital threats. In addition, they must recognise their own roles, the risks and consequences of their actions, and the associated business risks. This knowledge enables (government) organisations to counter digital attacks and act securely.
Government-wide Cyber Programme
Since 2019, the annual Government-wide Cyber Exercise has been conducted. Participants in this exercise experience the complexity of a cyber crisis and learn responsive actions. Additionally, throughout the year, the programme shares knowledge on cybercrime through podcasts, webinars, and masterclasses. All these activities are part of the Government-wide Cyber Programme, initiated by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK), in collaboration with various government and knowledge partners.
Red teaming toolbox
The national government is an attractive target for malicious actors, as indicated by the Cybersecurity Assessment Netherlands (CSAN) and the General Intelligence and Security Service of the Netherlands (AIVD) Annual Report. Therefore, strengthening the central government’s digital resilience is a key component of the national I-Strategy and the Values-driven Digitisation Work Agenda. Red teaming tests, sophisticated security assessments, are used to increase organisations’ digital resilience. The goal of red teaming is to test an organisation’s (or a chain of organisations’) security measures and facilitate learning from the process. The Red Teaming Toolbox provides four documents that guide you through the entire testing process within your organisation, from selecting a test to procurement and execution.
Simulating crisis situations
By simulating crisis situations, the entire government becomes more aware of digital threats, individual roles, responsibilities, and the risks and consequences of their actions.
Organisations and key actors in these efforts include:
- Alert Online: An initiative that encourages and supports government, businesses, education, science, and consumers in the Netherlands to stimulate collaboration on cybersecurity and to act more safely. Alert Online peaks in October during the European Cybersecurity Month;
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Veiliginternetten.nl: A joint initiative of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK), the Ministry of Justice and Security (JenV) /National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), Platform for the Information Society (ECP), and the business community;
- The Digital Trust Center of EZK, encourages and supports business owners to improve their online safety independently or in collaboration.
