No one is safe. Every day, cyberattacks are reported worldwide, with financial and reputational consequences that can be substantial for the affected companies. Belgium is not spared from this phenomenon. According to a study by Agoria, 71% of Belgian organisations fall victim to cyberattacks, a rate that is much higher than those of neighbouring countries like the Netherlands and France.

The NRB Group is fully committed to this fight by mobilising significant resources to establish effective lines of defence for its clients. More than a hundred experts are daily involved, developing innovative and secure solutions to ensure the sustainability of numerous organisations. This investment was recognised at the latest Data News Awards, with a prestigious win in the "Cybersecurity Company of the Year" category.

Lorenzo Bernardi, Head of Security Services at NRB, explains the company's commitment and actions in the field of cybersecurity.

Mr. Bernardi, how do you see the future in the field of cybersecurity? 

"The threat is always present. It constantly evolves, just like the ability of companies to protect themselves. Businesses must invest in solutions tailored to their means and needs. When you want to protect your home, you choose the most suitable alarm system based on the location and value of the assets. The same goes for protecting your business."

Do you feel that companies are becoming aware of the risks they are exposed to? 

"Organisations are increasingly digitising their activities to meet customer demands. It is essential to secure this architecture, especially since attacks are more frequent and impactful. I feel that companies are aware of the risks, even those that initially didn't think they were a prime target for potential hackers. Today, anyone can be affected, from multinationals to local bakeries. Of course, we need to continue our awareness efforts, whether towards our clients or the general public, but we are heading in the right direction."

The NRB Group actively participates in raising awareness by being a member of many cybersecurity think tanks. Can you tell us more about this? 

"NRB and its subsidiaries aim to contribute to the country's resilience in case of a cyberattack. We are aware that in case of a problem, our families, friends, and loved ones would be directly impacted. For example, we share our skills and expertise with major sector players through the Cyber Made in Belgium group, of which we are a part. During our meetings, we discuss measures to enhance the security of public and private enterprises and Defence. We are also part of the Cybersecurity Coalition and participate in trade shows and conferences to share our knowledge and raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity."

Your intervention at the CPAS of Charleroi led to a partnership with BeCode and Cyber Command to train new talents in security. How did this initiative come about? 

"The CPAS of Charleroi suffered a ransomware attack. 

The attack forced employees to work on paper for several weeks to ensure the continuity of their services. This example serves as a case study for BeCode students. NRB collaborates with this social impact school in the digital world by sharing its knowledge so that students can join the business world with expertise adapted to market needs. We also collaborate with higher education institutions, universities, and training organisations to help them train young people as effectively as possible."

Does this mean that the NRB Group wants to further strengthen its cybersecurity teams? 

"We are constantly recruiting. We always need skilled individuals, but they are not always easy to find on the market. That's why we also hire candidates who have just graduated to train them."

What profiles might interest companies active in the cybersecurity world? 

"Our various teams handle all aspects of cybersecurity. This includes defining strategy, threat detection, operational security, firewall configuration, access management policies, and awareness campaigns."

How do you ensure that your employees stay informed about the new techniques used by hackers? 

"We conduct technological monitoring across all our departments. For example, our Threat Management service studies the latest trends to anticipate the vulnerabilities hackers might exploit and adapt our solutions accordingly. We also analyse the results of our interventions with clients to gather as much useful information as possible for our ongoing research."

The NRB Group recently won the "Cybersecurity Company of the Year" award at the Data News Awards. What does this award mean for your teams? 

"Cybersecurity is part of NRB Group's DNA. We regularly discuss with all subsidiaries to deepen our business knowledge in specific areas, such as hospitals, municipalities, or SMEs, to offer solutions increasingly tailored to our clients' real needs. This award at the Data News Awards is a recognition of this work, and this investment from each employee. It also proves that the market sees NRB as a reference in the field of cybersecurity. But we will not rest on our laurels. We will continue to work to offer the best protection to all our clients."