Aruba is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands — but when it comes to cybersecurity, we don’t always act like one Kingdom. We all face similar challenges, especially when it comes to limited capacity and resources. Instead of trying to solve everything on our own, why not lean on each other more?
Meanwhile, cybercriminals — and even state-sponsored hackers — are collaborating and coordinating more effectively than we are. Organized groups run cybercrime-as-a-service operations, share tooling, and operate with a level of efficiency that puts pressure on all of us, especially smaller partners in the Kingdom. And it’s not just ransomware anymore — we’re increasingly seeing targeted cyberespionage campaigns that aim to steal sensitive information or undermine institutions.
We’ve already felt the impact. In 2023, the KNVB was attacked by the Lockbit ransomware group. In 2022, Sint Maarten’s only water and electricity provider lost access to critical financial systems. Aruba’s main hospital suffered a ransomware attack in 2019 that disrupted patient care. And more recently, in 2023, the International Criminal Court in The Hague was targeted in a sophisticated cyberespionage attack believed to be state-sponsored — a stark reminder that even the highest institutions are not immune.
In this talk, I want to make the case for why we need to start thinking and acting like a Kingdom when it comes to cyberresilience. From incident response and intelligence sharing to training and mutual support, there’s so much we can do better together. Whether you’re in policy, operations, or just curious about how the Kingdom could collaborate more effectively, I hope this session sparks new ideas — and maybe even some new partnerships.
