The Municipality of The Hague approaches digital security from two angles: as a city that attracts cybersecurity companies, and as a driver of cyber resilience among “everyday” entrepreneurs; from bakers to butchers. This latter group often has limited time, limited attention, and (so far) limited sense of urgency, even as their dependence on digital systems continues to grow.
The challenge
The biggest challenge remains reaching SMEs and making the importance of cybersecurity truly resonate, Objectives
The Municipality of The Hague was looking for an approach that helps entrepreneurs to:
- build awareness in a positive way, emphasizing cost–benefit (“prevention is cheaper”);
- provide immediate, practical guidance: what can you do as soon as tomorrow?;
- better match different maturity levels (startups vs. established SMEs);
- structurally increase reach.
Objectives
The Municipality of The Hague was looking for an approach that helps entrepreneurs to:
- build awareness in a positive way, emphasizing cost–benefit (“prevention is cheaper”);
- provide immediate, practical guidance: what can you do as soon as tomorrow?;
- better match different maturity levels (startups vs. established SMEs);
- structurally increase reach.
Why CCRC?
The municipality works with subject-matter partners to involve as many entrepreneurs as possible in cyber safety. CCRC stood out for its mix of energy, commitment, and practical approach: not just telling entrepreneurs what could go wrong, but letting them experience what they themselves can do.
The approach
Together with CCRC, the Municipality of The Hague focuses primarily on workshops, presentations, and interactive sessions, preferably embedded within events that entrepreneurs already attend. The emphasis is on interaction and making an incident tangible: what steps do you take, what are the first decisions, and where are your own blind spots? During cyber crisis exercises, CCRC works step by step and visually (post-its, team roles, scenario building), so even smaller groups of entrepreneurs can actively get to work.
The results
The collaboration has made it clear what does create momentum: relevant content delivered in a setting where entrepreneurs are already gathered. During a session in October 2025, around 80 entrepreneurs attended the programme. The value wasn’t only in the room, but especially in what happened afterwards: entrepreneurs continuing the conversation and asking one-on-one questions about their own situation.
The municipality also sees growing interest: entrepreneurs ask sharp questions, for example about AI and supply-chain dependencies, or concerns about suppliers and geopolitics. That helps make the topic less abstract.
Follow-up
For 2026, the Municipality of The Hague wants to do more than events alone: there will be a stronger focus on communication, campaigns, and content that sticks and enables entrepreneurs to take action themselves. The goal remains the same: not only to raise awareness, but to ensure entrepreneurs actually take concrete steps afterwards.