What happened?
On June 11, 2024, the VDAB (Vlaamse Dienst voor Arbeidsbemiddeling en Beroepsopleiding) was hit by a DDoS attack. The attack flooded the servers with data requests, rendering the website and several applications unusable for hours. Despite the attack, no personal data were stolen.
How did it happen?
The attack presumably came from outside Europe and was aimed at overloading the network. This type of attack is specifically designed to disrupt systems by flooding them with traffic, with no direct attempt to steal data or demand a ransom.
What was the impact for the company?
The attack caused major disruptions, taking the VDAB's website and applications offline for several hours. Users were temporarily unable to access VDAB's services, causing inconvenience to both job seekers and employers. Fortunately, the systems could be fully restored the next day, thanks to the quick action of the VDAB's IT team, in collaboration with their telecom provider Telenet.
How could this have been prevented?
】 VDAB responded quickly by deploying digital filter blocks to filter the traffic and stop the attack. In the future, preventive measures such as DDoS mitigation systems, continuous monitoring and early warnings could help prevent and detect such attacks faster. Despite the rapid response, the attack was a reminder of the importance of a robust IT infrastructure to protect government services.
If your organization faces similar threats, it is advisable to evaluate and strengthen cybersecurity measures as needed.