SWOC ANALYSIS OF THE
NCSC
Report on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities
and challenges of the Dutch National Cyber
Security Centre
S2309866
Wordcount: 2750
, Introduction
As the Dutch government perceives the cybersecurity of the Netherlands as something
of importance, The Dutch National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) was established (Eriksson
and Rhinhard, 2009; NCSC, 2021b). The NCSC is the centre of expertise and the central
information hub for cyber security in the Netherlands. Since January 1st, 2012, the NCSC is in
place to improve the Dutch resilience in the Digital domain. Since January 2019, The NCSC is
a separate agency under the Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice and Safety, the NCTV
is the commissioner for the NCSC (NCSC, 2022a). The NCSC is tasked to support
organizations in the vital sector and central government in the continuity of their (digital)
services, to inform and advice on cyber threats and incidents, to analyse and conduct technical
research on threats and incidents and to take care of incident or threat reports (NCSC, 2022c).
The main goal of the organization is “to realize a safe, open and stable information society by
sharing knowledge, providing insight and pragmatic advice”. They specify that their main target
group is the Dutch government and operators in the Vital infrastructure sector. They define vital
infrastructure as infrastructure that is crucial for the proper functioning of Dutch society, such
as energy, water, and telecom (NCSC, 2022a).
The NSCS is a public policing body, as the activities and goals of the organization are in place
to ensure the security of Dutch society (Button, 2019). This policing can be classified as
policing by the government, as the NSCS is a public organization that falls under the
responsibility of the Ministry of Justice and Safety (Loader, 2000).
In this paper, the NSCS will be described on the basis of a SWOC (Strengths, Weaknesses,
Opportunities, Challenges) analysis. The findings will be presented by first describing the
internal environment with its strengths and weaknesses, followed by the description of the
external environment and the accompanying opportunities and challenges.
1
NCSC
Report on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities
and challenges of the Dutch National Cyber
Security Centre
S2309866
Wordcount: 2750
, Introduction
As the Dutch government perceives the cybersecurity of the Netherlands as something
of importance, The Dutch National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) was established (Eriksson
and Rhinhard, 2009; NCSC, 2021b). The NCSC is the centre of expertise and the central
information hub for cyber security in the Netherlands. Since January 1st, 2012, the NCSC is in
place to improve the Dutch resilience in the Digital domain. Since January 2019, The NCSC is
a separate agency under the Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice and Safety, the NCTV
is the commissioner for the NCSC (NCSC, 2022a). The NCSC is tasked to support
organizations in the vital sector and central government in the continuity of their (digital)
services, to inform and advice on cyber threats and incidents, to analyse and conduct technical
research on threats and incidents and to take care of incident or threat reports (NCSC, 2022c).
The main goal of the organization is “to realize a safe, open and stable information society by
sharing knowledge, providing insight and pragmatic advice”. They specify that their main target
group is the Dutch government and operators in the Vital infrastructure sector. They define vital
infrastructure as infrastructure that is crucial for the proper functioning of Dutch society, such
as energy, water, and telecom (NCSC, 2022a).
The NSCS is a public policing body, as the activities and goals of the organization are in place
to ensure the security of Dutch society (Button, 2019). This policing can be classified as
policing by the government, as the NSCS is a public organization that falls under the
responsibility of the Ministry of Justice and Safety (Loader, 2000).
In this paper, the NSCS will be described on the basis of a SWOC (Strengths, Weaknesses,
Opportunities, Challenges) analysis. The findings will be presented by first describing the
internal environment with its strengths and weaknesses, followed by the description of the
external environment and the accompanying opportunities and challenges.
1