Register for the SIDN TechTalk on 29 October

SIDN operates at the heart of the Dutch internet. Often in partnership with universities and other higher education centres. And often participating in national and international working groups concerned with abuse, security and data. We also maintain close ties with a variety of technical and other bodies in the Netherlands. As a result, we have expertise in many key fields, which we love to share with the internet community.

Who's TechTalk for?

Technical professionals and students from the Arnhem region who are passionate about their field, open to new developments and keen to share their knowledge.

Programme

18:00 – 19:00: Reception

Don't go eating before you arrive! The programme includes an enjoyable, free evening meal.

19:00 – 19:45: Talk 1

Why more threat intelligence does not automatically lead to greater security – Ferry Stelte, CISO at SIDN

Every day, cybersecurity professionals are deluged by reports, threat information, news bulletins and commercial threat intelligence feeds. However, more information doesn’t necessarily mean better security.

In this TechTalk, SIDN’s CISO Ferry Stelte will show you how organisations can use intelligence to improve the targeting and effectiveness of their security systems. Not by gathering even more information, but by first establishing what information they actually need to support good decision-making.

Using practical examples, Ferry will explain the difference between information, intelligence and information requirements. Why paying for a threat intelligence feed doesn’t always mean you’ve got the insights you need. And how a clear understanding of threats, risks and organisational objectives can help you prioritise your cybersecurity investments and keep down your costs.

Ferry will also update you on developments such as NIS2 and the growing focus on threat intelligence in compliance and risk management activities. In that context, he’ll pose a provocative question: are organisations truly addressing the intention of the requirements, or are they often buying in information without first establishing what they actually need?

A session for security professionals, IT specialists and students who want to look beyond the latest threats and understand how intelligence can inform strategy, risk assessment and security-related decision-making.

About Ferry

As CISO at SIDN, Ferry Stelte is constantly tackling the question of how organisations can use their limited time, budgets and attention as effectively as possible for cybersecurity. With a background in systems administration, consultancy and security, Ferry combines technical expertise with a strong focus on risk, governance and decision-making.

In this session, he’ll explain how intelligence is used within SIDN to assess risks, select countermeasures and guide security activities in order to sharpen focus, improve decision-making and prevent time and resources being wasted.

19.45 - 20.30 uur: Talk 2

Counter-intelligence in the AI era: new tools, old rules – Erik van Dijk, Threat Intelligence Product Manager at Orange Cyberdefence

The wheel is still round – perhaps it’s just spinning a bit faster! What Erik learnt as an intelligence officer about asking the right questions – before you start gathering information – is exactly what still determines whether AI and threat intelligence are actually useful resources or merely sources of noise. In this TechTalk, Erik applies basic intelligence principles to the current AI hype: what’s really changing, and what’s essentially still the same? Using accessible examples – from a straightforward purchasing decision to the security of an organisation like SIDN – he demonstrates that good decision-making doesn’t depend on having more data, but on asking the right questions. And that everyone, from the engineer to the policymaker, has a role to play and a contribution to make.

About Erik

Erik van Dijk began his career in the Ministry of Defence before joining the Dutch intelligence services, where his focus was counter-intelligence. More than 16 years on, he now applies the logic learnt in that field to cybersecurity, working as Threat Intelligence Product Manager. Between those roles, he’s also worked as a CTI Manager, Risk Manager and Intelligence Advisor. Throughout his career, Erik has been guided by the conviction that good intelligence is the foundation of nearly every decision-making process, from selecting a holiday to defining a strategy at work. Erik will introduce you to the basic principles of intelligence work, what’s changing with AI, and what isn’t.

20:30 – 21:00: Chat and refreshments

Where is it?

At our offices in Arnhem. Address: Meander 501, 6825 MD Arnhem, The Netherlands

What does it cost?

Nothing!

Language

The presentations will be made in Dutch.

Interested?

If you want to attend our TechTalk, you must register for the event on Meetup. We only have space for 60 participants! So register soon to avoid missing out on the SIDN TechTalk on 29 October.

Join our Meetup group for news of all our upcoming TechTalks.

Registration/cancellation

The SIDN TechTalk is a free event. However, organising it does cost money. If you've registered but find you can't make it, please let us know promptly, so we can give your place to someone else.