Belgium opens national IT security centre

Belgium now has a centralised body in charge of cyber security. The Center for Cybersecurity Belgium (CCB), officially introduced on Monday by prime minister Charles Michel, is tasked with preventing and dealing with cyber security issues, while providing a platform for private and governmental organisations on Information Technology (IT) security.

The organisation has been operational since August, but the strategic plan was only approved by the Belgian government last week, reports the website Security Coalition.

According to the website, the CCB employs 10 people and works with an annual budget of approximately €700,000. Miguel De Bruycker (photo, left) was nominated as the centre's first director, following a successful run as the former head of the cybersecurity division at the defence ministry.

The CCB also acts as coordinator of various bodies concerned with cybersecurity, including the Belgian government for the development of its own IT security strategy.