Alert Online Kick-Off Event 2024

October is European Cybersecurity Month! The Netherlands contributes to this awaresness campaign with Alert Online. To prelude this period, an Alert Online Kick-Off event took place at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, on 30 September. At the event the results of the annual cybersecurity awareness research, commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK), were presented. 

During the event, Michiel Boots, director general Economy and Digitalisation, spoke about how the regulations and ‘Do your Updates’ champaign are used for cybersecurity. In addition, Melle Conradie of I&O Research presented the results of the Alert Online Cybersecurity Research 2024. 

The participants looked ahead to the future of the cyber landscape in the Netherlands and received tools and advice to get started with cyber security. Inge Wetzer (Secura) spoke about the psychology behind an effective 'cybersecurity people programme' and  Joeri Nelemans (Digital Trust Center) provides practical steps for organisations to improve their cybersecurity. The participants were also challenges through a cybersecurity escape room.

Key findings Alert Online Research:

• Similair to 2022 and 2023, three quarters of Dutch people consider their own knowledge about online risks such as phishing, hacking and malware to be reasonable to good.
• Three quarters of Dutch consumers and half of company employees do not report cyber-attacks or crime.
• The general level of knowledge and willingness towards action is increasing among Dutch companies, consumers and the government.
• It has especially improved when it comes to automatic updates of processes, systems and products or better securing access to them with, for example, multifactor authentication.
• The attention of small businesses to online security has decreased.

Read the full report.

Overview activities in NL

During Cybersecurity Month public-private partners such as the national government, municipalities, businesses, police and knowledge institutions participate and organise events to create cybersecurity awareness. An overview can be found on the Alert Online website. From 30 September till 4 October the Cybersecurity Week will also take place in the Hague, including many events that contribute to this ambition.

Source: Ministry of Economic Affairs