• The University
  • 14/01/2025
  • Nederlands

Kathmann: 48-hour plan vital sectors following cyberattack

On Tuesday afternoon during question time in the Dutch House of Representatives, MP for GroenLinks-PvdA Barbara Kathmann seized upon the cyberattack on TU/e to point out the importance of plans to keep vital sectors running in case of a digital outage. State Secretary Teun Struycken responded that responsibility is also with the organizations themselves, but that cybersecurity is high on the cabinet’s agenda.

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In the speaking time allocated to her on Tuesday afternoon,Barbara Kathmann starts by giving the cyber experts that are currently hard at work to make TU/e’s systems safe again a huge compliment. The MP for GroenLinks-PvdA refers to the cyberattack in Eindhoven to draw attention to her party’s motion to develop plans ‘to keep essential services running as much as possible in the event of a large-scale digital outage’.

The cabinet agreed to that proposal, but what Kathmann wants is action. Shouldn’t there be a plan allowing all organizations in the vital sectors – such as higher education, “but also the port of Rotterdam and our operating rooms” – to continue to run analogously for the “first crucial 48 hours”? She adds that she’d like to see this plan published “preferably before the summer.”

State Secretary Teun Struycken. Photo | video still question hour
No afterthought

A response is given by State Secretary Teun Struycken, who replaces Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel. He also praises the TU/e ​​cybersecurity team and emphasizes that the government wants to invest in cybersecurity, but also expects institutions to do so: “Cybersecurity is a key priority, not an afterthought.”

Struycken also refers to the committee debate on cybersecurity that is scheduled to take place on February 5, and to new legislation that aligns with European guidelines and that will be sent to the House next month.

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