The Federal Minister who responsibilities include the digital agenda Venessa Matz (Francophone centrist) has announced that 55 million euro will be allocated to in initiatives to improve cybersecurity at the government departments and ministries.
The Belgian Cybersecurity Centre that oversees the implementation of Belgium's cybersecurity strategy, receives an average of 45 reports of cyber-attack incidents per month. Ms Matz points out that “A cyber-attack on an public body can paralyse critical services for citizens and even compromise sensitive data”. She adds that the attacks are carried out by “Russian, Chinese or other hackers’” whose aim is “to weaken us as a nation”.
The 55 million euro will be used to ensure that every federal department, whatever its size, has a solid digital shield. The first step will be to upgrade basic IT tools. “Currently, some departments are still using software licences that do not meet the highest level of cyber security’, the Minister explains. “This upgrade goes hand in hand with the introduction of robust processes”.
The second component will involve proving government departments, whatever their size, the means to act in the event of a cyberattack.
"A centralised ICT centre at the federal Strategy and Support department will be made available to all, including for the smallest unit that are often less well-equipped and therefore more vulnerable”, Ms Matz explains.
The 55-million-euro a first step. Ms Matz says that she is prepared to reassess the resources if necessary.