Cyberwerf Project

Cyberwerf is a project that started at the Security Field Lab, with the support of the Economic Board of The Hague, the Municipality of The Hague and ROC Mondriaan. This project allows vocational level (mbo-) students to work as SME cybersecurity consultants. HSD is one of the initiators and is the connecting force to cybersecurity service providers.

Via a cybersecurity scan that the vocational level students developed themselves, Small- and Medium sized Enterprises (SME's) are provided with insights regarding their digital strengths and weaknesses. The students are taught to give advice to entrepreneurs to gain digital strength. Their ability to work safely digitally comes in handy when installing, managing, maintaining and programming hardware and networks. Cybersecurity studies are more common in higher levels of education. Cyberwerf intentionally targets vocational level students, because they are often responsible of executing tasks and are the first point of contact for SME's. The goal of Cyberwerf is to develop a hybrid education system that is able to finance itself. Education provider ROC Mondriaan is closely involved in this project. HSD Office is the connecting force to other partners, to develop a sturdy and viable Cyberwerf along with the Security Field Lab, ROC Mondriaan and students. This project is set up in a manner that allows for other locations in the country to adapt it.

Place for learning and experience

The Cyberwerf project started in 2018 in the living lab at industrial estate Zichtenburg, Kerketuinen en Dekkershoek (ZKD) in The Hague. Social, physical and digital security problems come together there. Security Field Lab (SFL) is working to improve the liveability and safety at such locations. Shopping centres, real estate areas and other locations with the same characteristics are suitable for Cyberwerf and a living lab of Security Field Lab. The function as a place for learning and experiences remains central. This is why there is a close collaboration with vocational and higher-level educational facilities within the region. New and existing technologies and theories are put into practice by the students and combined into new applications.

Approach

SFL brings the human side of security, behavioural influencing and technology together. Within the living lab, students get specific assignments regarding these perspectives. The assignments are provided by local entrepreneurs and partners of the Security Field Lab, with HSD-partners supporting them. Security Field Lab is mainly financed by creator Fokko Mellema and has the objective to create a hybrid educational system for vocational and higher-level students. SME's can use this educational system as a research- and testing facility in the field of security and cybersecurity.

This project is part of the Human Capital Programme of HSD Office and the Human Capital Agenda Security.