News item | 03-10-2025 | 15:15
To better protect the Netherlands and his allies against ever -growing cyber threats, the Defense Cyber Strategy (DCS) has been revised. This was sent by Minister Brekelmans and State Secretary Gardener from Defense to the Lower House today.
The new cyber strategy makes clear how Defense must, want and can use its cyber capacities against cyber threats. Both directed against the Netherlands and against allies. The number and size of cyber attacks on Dutch interests and defense are increasing unabated. This requires a strong defense organization with combat power in the cyber domain.
Minister Brekelmans: “The cyber threats from Russia and China in particular are increasing. To defend us against this, a proactive and permanent commitment is needed. Also in the ‘gray zone’ between war and peace in which we are now. This means that we must be able to recognize aggressive cyber factors faster. In the event of an armed conflict with Cyus with Cya Mue with Cya Mue with Cya Mue with Cya Met Met Met Met Met Fixes with Cybemen with Cybemen with Cybemen with Cybermen with Cybermen. With this strategy we also opt for a more offensive commitment.
Cyber takes
The DCS gives Focus to the duties of Defense in the Cyber Domein. Firstly, the military organization must keep its own systems safe. Defense is a daily target of cyber attacks. Therefore, measures are taken proactively to control cyber risks. And to be able to act in time with any cyber incidents.
The second task is to perform military cyber operations. The armed forces
Must be able to independently achieve effects that military goals can serve from the cyber domain. For example, military cyber operations can support information operations that in turn form an integral part of a military campaign.
Finally, the Ministry of Defense contributes to the overall cyber resilience of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and its allies. Although this is a civil matter in the first instance, the Ministry of Defense does play a significant role from, for example, the intelligence and security task and any military support.
The Ministry of Defense therefore performs military cyber operations to protect the Netherlands and support allies. Furthermore, the armed forces continues to invest in cooperation with other departments, private parties, knowledge institutions and allies.
Conditions
To be able to perform this the cybert tasks, the Ministry of Defense must have qualified cyber staff. Since such staff is scarce, the Ministry of Defense must be an attractive employer. Not only to attract these types of staff, but also to keep it. Defense, for example, trains high -quality cyber staff and enters into strategic partnerships with companies, schools and other knowledge institutions.
In addition to qualified cyber staff, the innovative capacity of Defense is also necessary to be able to perform the cybert tasks. Hereby it is important to work closely with private parties to tap into their knowledge and expertise. For example in the field of quantum-Cryptography and artificial intelligence.
State Secretary Tuinman: “Where steel and powder used to be decisive, data and algorithms are now that. It is a combat power. By strengthening our digital foundations, we increase the combat power of the armed forces in the Cyber Domein.”