It is important for directors, managers, and staff to be aware of existing digital threats, their own role and the risks and consequences of their actions, including the relating operational risks, in order to be able to counter digital attacks and to promote safe work practices.
Support programme iBewustzijn Overheid
Although the government has invested much in raising awareness for digital threats, a renewed approach is needed, focused more on practising cyber incidents: the iBewustzijn Aanpak, or iAwareness Approach. The government must be digi-able and digi-conscious, and offer knowledge and alertness, and above all an action perspective to directors, managers, and staff.
Simulating crises
By simulating crisis situations, the entire government will be more aware of the digital threats, their own role, their responsibilities and the risks and consequences of their own actions.
Governments and actors such as:
- Alert Online: an initiative that facilitates and stimulates the Dutch public and private sector, education, science, and consumers, to collaborate on cybersecurity and make them act more ‘cyber securely’. Alert Online’s focuses on October: European Cybersecurity Month;
- Veiliginternetten.nl: a joint initiative by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, the Ministry of Justice and Security / National Cyber Security Centre, ECP | Platform for the Information Society and business;
- The Digital Trust Center: initiated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, it stimulates and facilitates entrepreneurs to take action, individually and together, to improve their online security.
Alert Online, Veiliginternetten.nl and the Digital Trust Center have joined forces to organise an interdepartmental Cybersecurity Conference in October 2019, that will focus on practising with cyber incidents.