How can we ensure that the Netherlands’ telecom and internet networks remain operational in an increasingly uncertain world? That question has been at the heart of the work of a task force within the Dutch Cyber Security Council (CSR) over the past eighteen months. The result is the report Communication under Pressure, which the Council presented to the State Secretary for Digital Economy and Sovereignty last Thursday.
University of Twente professor Cristian Hesselman played a key role in developing the report. As a member of the Cyber Security Council, he initiated the study and was closely involved through the SECCOM working group (Security Risks to the Netherlands’ Communication Infrastructure). The report is based on input from experts across the Dutch telecom and internet sectors, as well as research conducted by TNO.
The Netherlands’ communications infrastructure forms the backbone of society. Citizens, businesses and public authorities all depend on reliable telecom and internet services. According to the Cyber Security Council, this vital infrastructure is coming under increasing pressure due to geopolitical developments and the growing threat of sabotage and cyberattacks.
Cristian Hesselman. Photo: SURF
Five recommendations
The report sets out five recommendations for the Dutch government to improve the resilience and continuity of telecom and internet services. These include increasing the geographical distribution and redundancy of infrastructure, strengthening cooperation between the telecom and energy sectors, improving emergency communication capabilities during prolonged outages, reinforcing emergency power provision, and enhancing strategic autonomy for critical processes.
“The Netherlands has a high-quality communications infrastructure, but the circumstances are changing rapidly,” says Hesselman. “That is exactly why we need to look ahead and invest now in system-level measures that will safeguard the continuity of our digital infrastructure, even during times of crisis.”
The full report can be downloaded from the Cyber Security Council website.
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