Information technology (IT) in Benelux
Read the latest tech news and trends in Benelux. Find articles and resources on IT security, data storage, backup and recovery, networking, data centre, cloud computing, mobile technology, virtualisation, big data, virtual machines and more.
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News
31 Oct 2025
European governments opt for open source alternatives to Big Tech encrypted communications
European governments are rolling out decentralised secure messaging and collaboration services as they seek to reduce their reliance on Big Tech companies Continue Reading
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News
20 Oct 2025
The Netherlands faces €12bn R&D investment gap as productivity stagnates
Dutch government unveils nine-point plan to meet European 3% GDP target after its competitiveness ranking plummeted Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Jun 2022
What the EU’s content-filtering rules could mean for UK tech
EU proposals to clamp down on child sexual abuse material will have a material impact on the UK’s technology sector Continue Reading
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News
13 Jun 2022
New warning over tech suppliers in thrall to hostile governments
Ukraine war could lead to shakeup of dual-use tech exports, says former UK intelligence officer Continue Reading
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E-Zine
09 Jun 2022
CW Europe: Russia escalates cyber war on Ukraine
Microsoft has given details of cyber attacks on Ukrainian civilian communications, nuclear safety authorities, and the exploitation of the destruction of Mariupol in a phishing campaign. Also read about a report on the European Artificial Intelligence Act that suggests a limited ban on predictive policing systems. Continue Reading
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Opinion
01 Jun 2022
What does the EU’s NIS 2 cyber directive cover?
We run the rule over the European Union’s updated NIS2 security directive Continue Reading
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News
31 May 2022
Heineken puts employees in charge of their own careers with new HR system
According to Sanne Noordam, head of SAP SuccessFactors in the Netherlands, companies need to look and listen more closely to the needs of employees in order to attract and retain them Continue Reading
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News
31 May 2022
Industrial systems not safe for the future, say Dutch ethical hackers
Ethical hackers in the Netherlands say operational technology and IT networks need to be integrated to prevent cyber attacks penetrating their operations Continue Reading
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News
26 May 2022
Dutch companies struggle to fill tech jobs
There are plenty of IT job vacancies in the Netherlands, but a shortage of IT professionals Continue Reading
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News
23 May 2022
Netherlands approves beyond-visual-line-of-sight inspection drones
Drones can automate the traditionally challenging job of inspecting industrial sites, including hard-to-reach infrastructure Continue Reading
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News
19 May 2022
Red teaming will be standard in Dutch governmental organisations by 2025
The Dutch government wants to include the testing of the digital security of systems, processes and people – also known as red teaming – in all of its governmental organisations’ test planning and budgeting by 2025 at the latest Continue Reading
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News
16 May 2022
Europol gears up to collect big data on European citizens after MEPs vote to expand policing power
The European Parliament has voted to expand Europol’s role, legalising its processing of bulk datasets containing personal information and endorsing research into predictive policing technologies Continue Reading
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E-Zine
12 May 2022
CW Benelux: Meta shelves hyperscale datacentre plan in Netherlands
Meta’s plan for a hyperscale datacentre in the Netherlands which was to serve the metaverse world has been halted following a campaign by environmentalists and the Dutch parliament’s call for the government to do everything in its power to stop the facility being built. Also read how the Dutch arm of customer services supplier Teleperformance has led the entire organisation to adopt robotic process automation software. Continue Reading
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News
06 May 2022
Interview: Success in Belgium’s high-tech job market
Veteran executive recruiter shares his perspective on the Belgian job market, both for outsiders seeking work in the country and for young Belgian nationals just beginning their careers Continue Reading
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News
27 Apr 2022
Government digital ignorance puts Dutch economy at risk
In this interview, Michiel Steltman, managing director of Digital Infrastructure Netherlands, tells Computer Weekly why the Dutch digital economy is at risk due to a lack of knowledge and understanding at government level Continue Reading
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News
26 Apr 2022
BCS passes defiant Ukrainian tech industry message to its members
BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, has passed on a message from Ukrainian IT suppliers that the country is open for, and in need of, business Continue Reading
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News
21 Apr 2022
European cities moving fast to change business of parking
German cities are using the latest smart parking technology to reduce traffic and car pollution while collecting more fees for parking Continue Reading
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News
21 Apr 2022
Dutch schools struggle with digitisation
Now is the time for schools in the Netherlands to determine how the opportunities of distance and digital learning resources can be made to work and how the risks involved can be mitigated Continue Reading
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News
11 Apr 2022
Mastercard opens European tech hub in Dublin
Mastercard is doubling its technology workforce in Dublin through a new European tech hub in the Irish capital Continue Reading
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News
07 Apr 2022
European IT and BPO outsourcing off to strong start
European IT and business process outsourcing services continue to increase rapidly, with cloud-based services now more than half of the total Continue Reading
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News
04 Apr 2022
Environmental campaigners halt Meta datacentre construction in the Netherlands
Datacentre being built to serve ‘metaverse’ worlds would consume nearly half as much energy as all other datacentres in the country Continue Reading
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News
21 Mar 2022
Teleperformance’s robotic process automation increases job satisfaction
A project to introduce software robots at the Dutch arm of Teleperformance has been adopted globally Continue Reading
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News
18 Mar 2022
Ukrainian cyber defences prove resilient
Thanks to a combination of prior experience and global support, Ukraine’s defences against cyber incidents are holding strong in the face of Russian attacks Continue Reading
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News
17 Mar 2022
Ukrainian tech journalists join fight to fill news void
Technology journalists in Ukraine are raising funds to enable them to help Ukrainians survive during the Russian invasion Continue Reading
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News
16 Mar 2022
ROC Mondriaan offers Apple skills in Dutch schools
Dutch school teaches the IT skills that users want but are not available in traditional courses, which is why it has developed a course focused on Apple technology Continue Reading
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News
14 Mar 2022
BNP Paribas to recruit 1,000 more women in IT
Spanish bank sets target of adding 1,000 more female IT professionals to its workforce over the next two years Continue Reading
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E-Zine
10 Mar 2022
CW Europe: Luxembourg sees big role in global fintech market
Read about Luxembourg’s aim to play a larger role in the rapidly growing global financial technology market. Also find out how a Siri-like digital assistant will automate the completion of government service requests in Estonia, and how drones can get life-saving equipment to heart attack victims in Sweden before emergency services can arrive on the scene. Continue Reading
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News
07 Mar 2022
Deutsche Bank tests IT operation resilience amid potential loss of Russian centre
German bank is confident the possible loss of operations in Russia will not affect the day-to-day running of its business Continue Reading
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News
07 Mar 2022
Ukrainian engineers fight to keep internet online
IT professionals in Ukraine are working tirelessly and at great risk to keep the country connected to the internet during the Russian invasion Continue Reading
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News
01 Mar 2022
Zopa Bank to sponsor 50 Ukrainian tech professionals with visa offer
IT companies are reaching out to IT professionals in the Ukraine with offers of support for those looking to work in the UK Continue Reading
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News
28 Feb 2022
EU big tech laws put in context by Russian invasion of Ukraine
Pressure is mounting on EU institutions to cut back regulations they are preparing to impose on US big tech firms while forming laws to create a single digital market Continue Reading
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News
28 Feb 2022
Ukraine cyber attacks seen spiking, but no destructive cyber war yet
While cyber attacks linked to Russia’s war on Ukraine are taking place, they are having little impact beyond the region Continue Reading
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News
25 Feb 2022
University of Amsterdam teams up with MIT to use analytics for a better world
Dutch and US universities join forces with tech company to help non-government organisations and the United Nations to harness data analytics to achieve sustainable development goals Continue Reading
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News
23 Feb 2022
Dutch girls in STEM held back by persistent gender bias
Gender stereotyping is leading to low numbers of women working in science, technology, engineering and maths sectors Continue Reading
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News
17 Feb 2022
How Signify accelerated automation projects as pandemic challenges mounted
Dutch lighting manufacturer used robotic process automation technology to help it address Covid-19-inflicted disruption Continue Reading
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News
11 Feb 2022
Lack of knowledge disastrous for effective security strategy within Dutch companies
Most Dutch companies still haven’t realised that security is an integral part of their IT and company strategy Continue Reading
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News
11 Feb 2022
Why security professionals should pay attention to what Russia is doing
Even though the average organisation is an unlikely target for a Russian state cyber attack, here's why security teams still need to watch what Russian threat groups are up to Continue Reading
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E-Zine
10 Feb 2022
CW Benelux: Unesco members adopt AI ethics recommendation
Unesco member state have adopted an AI ethics recommendation that seeks to define a common set of values and principles to guide the development of ethical AI globally. Also read about a large-scale national cyber exercise in the Netherlands, and the Estonian government’s Siri-like digital assistant. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Feb 2022
How Dutch hackers are working to make the internet safe
We hear how the personal mission of a Dutch hacker grew into a serious organisation with international ambitions Continue Reading
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News
04 Feb 2022
Cyber attacks on European oil facilities spreading
Following a cyber attack on distribution facilities in Germany, more incidents have been reported in Belgium and the Netherlands, but it is too early to necessarily draw a link between them Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2022
Mechanism underlying cookie popups found in breach of GDPR
A fundamental element of the mechanism by which the advertising industry requests tracking consent from web users has been found in breach of the General Data Protection Regulation Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2022
Dutch software engineers join campaign for research funding
Software researchers from all over Europe are sounding the alarm: to maintain a strong international competitive position, more financial resources must be committed to software research Continue Reading
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News
27 Jan 2022
CISOs must get out in front of Ukraine cyber crisis, says NCSC
The National Cyber Security Centre is urging UK organisations to take steps to bolster their cyber security resilience in response to the ongoing Ukraine crisis Continue Reading
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News
26 Jan 2022
More intel emerges on WhisperGate malware that hit Ukraine
Security experts have been poring over the WhisperGate malware with which alleged Russia-backed entities targeted Ukrainian government websites Continue Reading
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News
26 Jan 2022
Dutch education anticipates quantum technology
Dutch academic talks about the Netherlands’ role in a pan-European quantum computing project as university investigates the technology’s possibilities Continue Reading
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News
25 Jan 2022
Prepare, but don’t panic, over supposed Russian cyber threat
A fresh alert from the US Department of Homeland Security may have IT security teams jumpy over the possibility that their organisations could be targeted by Russian state actors Continue Reading
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News
12 Jan 2022
Outsourced IT and business services hit record levels in 2021
Spending on IT and business process outsourcing services in Europe hits highest ever level in 2021, with cloud service spending continuing to grow rapidly Continue Reading
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News
12 Jan 2022
Dutch cyber volunteers receive major funding boost
The Dutch Institute for Vulnerability Disclosure has received a $100,000 donation to expand the scope of its work Continue Reading
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News
05 Jan 2022
Fintech players get cosy in Luxembourg
Luxembourg aims to play a larger role in the rapidly growing global fintech market Continue Reading
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News
24 Dec 2021
Top 10 Benelux stories of 2021
Computer Weekly looks at the top IT stories from the Benelux region in the past year Continue Reading
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E-Zine
09 Dec 2021
CW Europe: Norway embraces internet of things
Norway is becoming a centre of IoT innovation as tech developers tackle some of the country’s unique challenges, in areas such as fish farming, power distribution and monitoring of boats. Also in this issue, find out why Utrecht University media scientist José van Dijck has won an award, and read about Estonia’s country-as-a-service scheme. Continue Reading
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News
07 Dec 2021
AI assistant Bürokratt to reduce bureaucracy in Estonian government
Estonia to launch a Siri-like digital assistant that will automate the completion of government service requests Continue Reading
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News
06 Dec 2021
European finance firms increase open banking spend
Financial services firms are increasing investment in open banking capabilities, with improvements to payment initiation and onboarding capabilities expected Continue Reading
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News
01 Dec 2021
Unesco member states adopt AI ethics recommendation
The non-binding recommendation seeks to define a common set of values and principles to guide the development of ethical AI globally Continue Reading
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News
18 Nov 2021
Sky ECC provided free cryptophones to a Canadian police force
Internal emails disclosed in a US court show how Sky Global supplied sample encrypted phones to a Canadian police force before its phone users became subject to an international police investigation Continue Reading
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News
18 Nov 2021
Cryptophone supplier Sky Global takes legal action over US government website seizures
Canadian tech company Sky Global has filed a legal motion claiming that the US government unlawfully seized the company’s internet sites following police investigations into the use of its cryptophones by organised crime Continue Reading
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E-Zine
11 Nov 2021
CW Benelux: Dutch IT company rips up the HR rule book for better work-life balance
One Dutch tech firm has used learnings from the pandemic to rip up its HR rule book and implement an official work-from-home policy. In fact, Infolearn has gone further than hybrid working, with a personal mobility budget for staff and a four-day working week, all with retention of full-time salary. Also in this issue, read how Dutch education administrators appear to be underestimating the threat of cyber crime. Continue Reading
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News
09 Nov 2021
Vienna’s tech startup ecosystem gathers momentum
After a sustained period of inactivity, Vienna’s startup environment is finally on the rise again Continue Reading
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News
04 Nov 2021
The Netherlands works on resilience with large-scale national cyber exercise
For the Netherlands, the biggest challenge in a large-scale cyber crisis is to maintain speed while exercising due care Continue Reading
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News
01 Nov 2021
Payments through open banking could end card dominance
Payments made through open banking will eat into those made using cards as the next five years sees an acceleration in adoption Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2021
Netherlands’ Team Liquid revolutionises e-sports with data analytics
Data analysis is often used by enterprises, but the discipline is also gaining ground in other areas in the Netherlands, such as e-sports Continue Reading
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Opinion
05 Oct 2021
Britain needs its amazing migrants
Fintech entrepreneur Michael Kent explains why Britain needs migrants and why government policy and media horror stories will damage the UK’s economy and reputation Continue Reading
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News
30 Sep 2021
Digital bank fined by regulator due to weak anti-money laundering controls
German digital bank is fined by financial services regulator for failing in relation to its anti-money laundering practices Continue Reading
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News
28 Sep 2021
Dutch IT firm transforms HR policy built on lessons from pandemic
Software firm rips up human resources rule book and replaces it with a hybrid working policy Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2021
Dutch scientist receives top award for work on digital media’s effect on society
Utrecht University media scientist José van Dijck wins the Spinoza Award and funds for her research into the effects of social media on society Continue Reading
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News
16 Sep 2021
Dutch education administrators underestimate threat of cyber crime
Research shows educational establishments in the Netherlands are becoming favoured targets of cyber criminals and administrators are underestimating the risks Continue Reading
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E-Zine
09 Sep 2021
CW Europe: Dutch researchers build security software to mimic human immune system
In this issue of CW Europe, find out how researchers in the Netherlands are attempting to help IT systems fight certain cyber attacks in a similar way to the human immune system works. One of the team at Dutch research institute TNO was originally an immunologist, and saw parallels with the human immune system in the field of cyber security. Also in this issue, find out about the so-called “Klarna academy” in Stockholm, which has created the next set of Nordic fintech entrepreneurs. Continue Reading
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News
03 Sep 2021
Berlin court reverses ban on use of EncroChat evidence in criminal trials
Berlin Superior Court allows use of EncroChat evidence in criminal trials but lawyers say the question will ultimately need to be decided by the German Supreme Court Continue Reading
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News
13 Aug 2021
GoStudent: Europe’s newest edtech unicorn
Europe’s biggest ed-tech unicorn reaches unicorn status and tests sector traditions Continue Reading
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E-Zine
12 Aug 2021
CW Benelux: Netherlands sees increase in the number of women opting for an ICT career
The IT skills gap in the Netherlands could be about to narrow as more women take up jobs in the sector. Figures from last year revealed that the number of female ICT professionals grew by 6.5%, while the number of male ICT professionals increased by only 1.7%. Read more about it in this issue. Also find out why more openness about ransomware attacks in the Dutch business community could be the first step to defeating a growing problem. Continue Reading
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News
11 Aug 2021
Global fintech investments reach new heights
The global financial technology industry is emerging from the pandemic-triggered slowdown with record levels of investment to fuel further growth Continue Reading
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News
11 Aug 2021
The Netherlands still lacks digital resilience, says report
Report by National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security says the Netherlands’ digital resilience has improved, but is still insufficient Continue Reading
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News
10 Aug 2021
Dutch lead the way in protecting themselves against internet risks
Dutch citizens come top in a study on awareness of internet risks in Europe, which showed major differences across the continent Continue Reading
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News
14 Jul 2021
More than half of European IT outsourcing spending will soon be on cloud services
Cloud services will soon be the largest part of the IT services market in Europe, as enterprises invest in them as part of their Covid-19 recovery strategies Continue Reading
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News
13 Jul 2021
Secureworks sets up in EU datacentre for XDR services
New datacentre location helps Secureworks’ customers meet EU data residency requirements Continue Reading
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News
13 Jul 2021
Dutch prosecutor ordered to give evidence on EncroChat hack
Netherlands court rules that a public prosecutor should give evidence about the role of the Dutch in the EncroChat cryptophone hack which has led to arrests of organised gangs worldwide Continue Reading
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News
03 Jul 2021
Berlin court finds EncroChat intercept evidence cannot be used in criminal trials
In a major setback for police hacking operations, Berlin’s regional court has decided that intercepted data from the EncroChat phone network should not be used in criminal prosecutions Continue Reading
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News
23 Jun 2021
European Union to set up new cyber response unit
Proposed Joint Cyber Unit will tackle a rising number of serious incidents impacting public services, businesses and citizens of the EU Continue Reading
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News
23 Jun 2021
Openness can protect Dutch companies against ransomware
Dutch businesses that suffer ransomware attacks need to be more open about it, if this growing problem is to be brought under control Continue Reading
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News
22 Jun 2021
UK SMEs lack capacity to fend off cyber attacks
Three-quarters of UK SME leaders would not have sufficient capacity or expertise to deal with a cyber attack, according to a report Continue Reading
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News
17 Jun 2021
Increasing numbers of Dutch women opt for career in ICT
There’s a shortage of IT professionals in the Netherlands, but the skills gap can be bridged by attracting further women to the sector Continue Reading
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News
14 Jun 2021
Benelux CIO interview: Benoît Dewaele, Vandemoortele
CIO of Ghent-headquartered food group says the IT department’s main challenges are improving digital customer experiences, helping implement automation in plants and strengthening cyber security Continue Reading
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News
11 Jun 2021
FBI planned a sting against An0m cryptophone users over drinks with Australian investigators
Australian Federal Police and the FBI came up with the idea over drinks: build a cryptophone network with a built-in backdoor and sell it to crime gangs around the world Continue Reading
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E-Zine
10 Jun 2021
CW Europe: Amsterdam reins back datacentre developments over environmental concern
The construction of datacentres in the Netherlands’ Amsterdam region has accelerated at such a pace that their demands for electricity are causing concern, prompting city authorities and datacentre operators to open a dialogue about sustainable datacentre industry expansion. Also in this issue, find out the state of play in the adoption of open banking across Europe. Continue Reading
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News
09 Jun 2021
FBI arrests distributors accused of selling An0m encrypted phones to crime groups
Working with overseas law enforcement, the FBI has arrested eight people and named a further 13 accused of distributing An0m phones to organised crime groups Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2021
EC launches digital identity framework
The European digital identity will be available to citizens, residents and businesses across the EU, and member states will offer digital identity wallets on a national level Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2021
Updated standard contractual clauses will provide ‘legal certainty’ for transfer of data
Organisations have 18 months to update data transfer agreements, known as standard contractual clauses, or SCCs, to continue sharing data outside the European Union Continue Reading
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News
03 Jun 2021
Reports raise alarm over Huawei access to Dutch networks
Espionage accusations raise security questions for Netherlands organisations using Chinese supplier’s equipment and services Continue Reading
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News
27 May 2021
TCS opens its first European innovation centre in Amsterdam
Netherlands capital hosts TCS’s latest innovation hub, which will bring together an ecosystem to address the challenge of sustainability Continue Reading
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News
27 May 2021
NGOs file complaints against Clearview AI in five countries
Privacy and human rights organisations have asked data protection regulators in the UK, France, Austria, Italy and Greece to investigate controversial facial recognition company Clearview AI Continue Reading
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News
24 May 2021
Dutch researchers build security software to mimic human immune system
Software could help IT systems develop immunity to some cyber attacks in a similar way to how the body fights infection Continue Reading
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News
24 May 2021
MEPs urge European Commission to revise UK adequacy decisions
Members of the European Parliament are calling for the European Commission to ensure EU citizens have greater privacy rights Continue Reading
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E-Zine
13 May 2021
CW Benelux: Netherlands university launches centre of expertise in applied AI
Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences has launched a centre of expertise in applied artificial intelligence, and students from all faculties of the university will learn how to apply AI in their field of study. Also in this issue, read why a training ‘roadmap’ is needed to get Netherlands police officers up to speed with tackling cyber crime. Continue Reading
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News
06 May 2021
Netherlands to build new national supercomputer
The Netherlands has laid out plans for its next national supercomputer, to be known as Snellius Continue Reading
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News
30 Apr 2021
EncroChat: Top lawyer warned CPS of risk that phone hacking warrants could be unlawful
Lord David Anderson QC warned prosecutors that there were formidable arguments against the lawfulness of a police operation to infiltrate the encrypted phone network, EncroChat Continue Reading
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News
13 Apr 2021
EncroChat lawyers raise questions over use of PII secrecy orders on UK decryption capabilities
Lawyers claim that public interest immunity certificates may have been used to withhold information on UK intelligence agencies’ ability to decrypt encrypted communications Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2021
Global demand for IT and business services highest ever for first quarter
Global demand for IT and business services began the year strongly, with a record first quarter Continue Reading
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News
01 Apr 2021
EncroChat hearings delayed as lawyers seek disclosure on police hacking
Court hearings precipitated by police cracking the EncroChat secure mobile phone network have been delayed after defence lawyers request further disclosures on police decryption capabilities Continue Reading
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News
30 Mar 2021
Belgium’s Federal Justice Service advances digitally with fast networks
Security and networking firms team to claim 20 times faster connectivity for Belgium’s justice system so it can hold court hearings and prison visitations remotely and exchange information between services and applications securely Continue Reading
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News
29 Mar 2021
How far has open banking come in Europe?
Open banking is a relatively new concept, having come into effect in Europe only in the last couple of years. So what is the state of play? Continue Reading
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News
26 Mar 2021
Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences combines AI and practice
University ensures cooperation between scientists and industry when developing artificial intelligence Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Mar 2021
Anti-money laundering technology must operate in a collaborative ecosystem
With new technologies making it easier for banks to spot money laundering activity, we look at why the problem persists at scale, finding that ecosystems and collaborative processes need to be built Continue Reading