A national strategy in the field of cyber security can count on a lot of criticism. ‘There’s a lot of good stuff in it, but there’s also a lot of crap. In addition, many things are missing,” criticizes VVD MEP Bart Groothuis at BNR Digitaal. “Now there is a phase: How are we going to stop tomorrow’s attack? I still miss it.’

Not only is Groothuis critical of the plan, Eward Driehuis, cybersecurity consultant and head of CSIRT.global, also sees what is missing from the strategy. ‘I’m interested in how the awareness of citizens and small businesses helps them become low-risk cyber citizens.’

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Groothuis does not have an ‘active strategy’ to strengthen cyber security. Contracts can also be entered into with internet providers. If you know there are domains serving malware, why not red screen them? They’re doing it in Belgium, they’re leading the way, we’re lagging behind’

Nevertheless, positive aspects of the strategy are also noted, Driehuis stresses. ‘It is spoken more maturely than ever before. For example, there is no longer any distinction between the criminal aspects of the Internet. It’s a very strategic piece, but the question is how you’re going to implement it in practice.’

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Protecting the economy

What the VVD politician would like to see is a DNS server that centrally manages which sites are safe and which are not. ‘You put all the knowledge we have about malware, IP addresses and domains into it. If you click on some dangerous domains, they won’t open. You can do this or provide it to companies for core infrastructure. That way you protect your full economic earning potential,’ thinks Groothuis.

Groothuis would like to see more European cooperation, as Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States do. ‘They cooperate very actively in the field of intelligence, but also in the fields of policing, policy and geopolitics. We have to get the same value in Europe,’ says Groothuis.