200 more experts to make up Belgium's 'cyber army'

The Centre Cybersecurity Belgium (CCB) plans to hire 200 additional computer experts to reinforce the 92 staff already working at the headquarters in the Brussels municipality of Evere. The centre has already advertised 30 new posts, federal defence minister Steven Vandeput has confirmed.

The CCB is the country’s first line of defence against cyber-attacks. It is first in line to defend military targets, including communications networks and weapons systems.

The centre is also on hand to fight attacks on other targets, including economic installations. According to reports, CCB will not be solely defensive but will also have the resources to aggressively fight cyber-attacks.

Vandeput is also minister for the civil service, and has brought in the federal recruitment agency Selor to find the necessary computer experts. They will include people with hacking experience, with some flexibility in traditionally recognised qualifications.

“The defence ministry will give priority to profiles of those with technical knowledge that is immediately applicable,” he said, “people who can develop into specialists with training and on-the-job experience.”