Cybersecurity - and Resilience Initiatives in South Holland

Strengthening SME Cybersecurity Through Regional Collaboration

Research and practical experience show that many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) still need to enhance their cyber resilience. SMEs are vital contributors to our economy but are particularly vulnerable to digital threats. As cyber threats increase, we must work together to enhance the digital resilience of our SMEs. We can ensure our region's economic continuity and security through South Holland Cyber Resilience Collaboration.

Learn from entrepreneurs who have been attacked digitally

October is once again Cybersecurity Awareness Month: the month in which we pay extra attention to conducting business securely online, making conscious choices and sharing practical experiences. Cybercrime affects not only large organisations — smaller businesses, freelancers and family businesses are also increasingly at risk.

To make this visible, we are sharing four personal stories this month from entrepreneurs who fell victim to a digital attack. They recount what happened, the impact it had, and how they have since strengthened their digital approach. Think of a hacked hospitality website, a technical service provider hit by ransomware over the weekend, identity fraud, and a loss of €150,000 due to a weak password.

A new story every week.

Each week we publish a new entrepreneur's story, supplemented with practical tips that you can immediately apply in your own organisation. This way, you learn from the experiences of others and work step by step on your digital resilience.

Week 1: Frans van Hall - Hospitality entrepreneur
Theme: Hacked 

Read the full story

Week 2: Edwin de Ruijter - Consulting firm owner 
Theme: Identity fraud

Read the full story

Week 3: Henny de Haas - Director Hoppenbrouwers
Theme: Hacked

Read the full story

Week 4: Joost Fromberg- Entrepreneur
Theme: Hacked

Read the full story

Why this campaign?

Cybersecurity starts with awareness. By being open about incidents and mistakes, we can learn and grow stronger together. The entrepreneurs in this campaign demonstrate that a digital attack does not have to be the end — but rather an opportunity to work in a structurally safer manner.

Collaboration

This campaign is a collaboration between: Digital Trust Center (DTC), Police and Safe Entrepreneurship (PVO), Province of South Holland, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, ECP | Platform for the Information Society, VNO-NCW, VNG, municipality of The Hague and Security Delta (HSD).

Cyber Security Month 2024

During Cyber Security Month, municipalities across South Holland played a pivotal role in promoting cybersecurity awareness through a series of inspiring and educational events aimed at strengthening the digital resilience of local communities and businesses. Key voices, including Cyber Mayor Cornelis Visser and Sanne Brekelmans from the Platform for Safe Entrepreneurship (PVO), shared insights on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their fight against cyber threats.

                                                                                                Read the interview with Cyber Mayor Visser                                                        Read the interview with Sanne Breklands, Cyber Advisor at PVO

In total, 17 municipalities organised campaigns and events, with 7 municipalities holding multiple activities to engage their communities.

Highlights of the Month:

                                                Cybersecurity Week The Hague

                                                                  Read the facts & figures                                        Read about the Women4Cyber Congress                                 Read about the ONE cyber business event

The Cybersecurity Week marked the start of Cyber Security Month, featuring interesting events such as the Women4Cyber conference and the ONE Cyber Business event.

                                                              Local Initiatives

                            Read how entrepreneurs enhance Cyber Resilience                                 Read about student hackathons in Zoetermeer & Rotterdam

Municipalities like The Hague, Dordrecht, Hillegom, Waddinxveen, Zoetermeer, and Pijnacker-Nootdorp organised workshops, training, and conferences to support entrepreneurs in safeguarding their businesses. Besides this, Hackathons were organised for students in several municipalities as well.

                                                           Awareness Campaigns

Initiatives like the Beschermjezelfonline.nl campaign and the launch of the HackHelpDesk provided residents with practical cybersecurity tips.

These efforts underscore the commitment of South Holland municipalities to creating a safer digital landscape for local businesses. With cybercrime posing growing risks, collaboration among municipalities, regional organisations, and cybersecurity entities is essential. Mayor Visser emphasised the importance of sharing knowledge to equip entrepreneurs with the tools to face digital threats.

The Platform for Safe Entrepreneurship (PVO) highlighted the benefits of such partnerships by working with municipalities and business associations to strengthen SME cyber resilience. Addressing cybercrime is a multifaceted task that requires cooperation between public and private sectors to support SMEs effectively. By connecting these sectors, municipalities can provide entrepreneurs with actionable insights, saving them time and boosting their readiness to protect their digital environments.

As we conclude Cyber Security Month, let’s continue building on this momentum. Through ongoing collaboration and knowledge sharing, municipalities can help enhance the cyber resilience of SMEs and work towards a safer digital future for everyone in South Holland.