Why We Need to Reconnect Cybersecurity to the Real World Before It’s Too Late
On 10 and 11 September 2025, Cybersec Netherlands returns to Jaarbeurs Utrecht with a packed agenda of pressing topics, pioneering minds, and practical insights for professionals at every level of cybersecurity. One of the most eye-opening voices this year is that of Bert Hubert—internet pioneer, former AIVD insider, and relentless advocate for bringing cybersecurity back to earth.
In his keynote titled “A Pre-War Reality Check: Can We Defend Together?”, Hubert cuts through the fog of buzzwords and policy platitudes to issue a sharp, timely warning: we are dangerously out of touch with the cyber threats we claim to be defending against. And unless we reconnect strategy with technical reality, our digital resilience will remain paper-thin.
From Internet Core to Intelligence Oversight: A Rare Perspective
Bert Hubert isn’t your average cybersecurity commentator. With a career stretching back to the early 2000s, he’s been at the heart of the digital infrastructure that powers our modern world. His software has kept internet providers online—under conditions where failure meant front-page news.
But what makes Hubert’s perspective uniquely grounded is his time at the Dutch intelligence agency AIVD, where he not only advised on national cyber defense but later served as a regulator, scrutinizing and approving hacking operations. “That experience gave me a very calibrated view on what’s really going on,” he notes.
What he saw was both impressive and deeply worrying: layers of abstraction, fragmented outsourcing, and a systemic disconnect between those fighting on the frontlines and those writing the rules. His keynote aims to expose that gap—and urge a course correction before a true cyber conflict forces our hand.
The Illusion of Security in a World of Outsourcing
“Security today often lives in graphs, dashboards, and polished reports,” Hubert says. “But when things go wrong, that’s not what saves you. You need to touch the metal.”
In his keynote, Hubert will address a creeping crisis in cybersecurity: the erosion of in-house technical capability. Organizations have outsourced so much—monitoring, infrastructure, even incident response—that no single player has end-to-end visibility. Meanwhile, the “nexus” where all these services meet is often an empty chair.
“Many security problems,” he warns, “aren’t found in one place. They’re a combination of misconfigurations, blind spots, and assumptions across the entire stack of vendors and contracts. And no one sees the whole picture.”
This fractured landscape, Hubert argues, leaves us ill-prepared for large-scale digital disruption—especially in the context of rising geopolitical tensions and the possibility of pre-war cyber maneuvering.
Back to Basics: Lift the Stones, Face the Truth
At the heart of Hubert’s message is a return to realism. “We keep assuming that things are being monitored, backed up, or done redundantly,” he explains. “But every time I check—lift the stone—it turns out those assumptions are wrong.”
His advice for cybersecurity professionals, especially those new to the field? “Keep it real.” That means diving deep, verifying instead of assuming, and building genuine technical understanding. Cyber resilience, he believes, comes not from ticking compliance boxes, but from hands-on knowledge and the courage to question comforting narratives.
He also highlights a growing divergence between cybersecurity as practiced by technicians versus how it is approached by policy-makers. “We’re seeing two cyber worlds developing—and they’re not converging. That’s dangerous.”
A Call to Reconnect—And Relearn
So, can we defend together? Hubert believes we can—but only if we reconnect the layers of cybersecurity that have drifted apart. His keynote will challenge attendees to:
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Reevaluate outsourcing strategies and rebuild core technical awareness
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Question assumptions and conduct real-world system checks
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Bridge the cultural gap between policymakers and engineers
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Invest in people who understand both the threats and the tech
For Hubert, Cybersec Netherlands is the perfect setting to plant these seeds. “At events like this, you’re exposed to new ideas, unexpected perspectives—and maybe even the people who can help your organization face what’s really out there.”
Don’t miss Bert Hubert’s keynote at Cybersec Netherlands 2025—an urgent, unfiltered look at the state of cybersecurity in an increasingly uncertain world. Join the conversation in Utrecht and ask yourself: are we really ready?
Register for free for Cybersec Netherlands 2025
As cyber attacks continue to threaten today’s tech landscape, this event is the premier platform for seasoned cyber security professionals and innovative start-ups to exchange knowledge and tackle cybersecurity challenges together. Organizations across all sectors will discover strategies to boost cyber resilience and safeguard critical assets. Don’t miss this chance to strengthen your cyber defenses—register for free now!
