SURF Strategy 2022-2027 launched
When we analyse the developments in the world around us, we see that a great deal is changing. In the new SURF Strategy 2022-2027, which was approved by the Members' Council in 2021, we give substance to our mission: to make reliable and innovative ict facilities possible, so that Dutch education and research can excel in their area of expertise.
Act more role conscious
SURF has traditionally had 3 roles. These are embedded in the legal form of a cooperative, which is an association with a business organisation. To be even more successful in the future, we will act as a cooperative in an even more conscious way:
- SURF as an association in which members work together across the boundaries of their sector/campus and together with the SURF organisation, to develop, combine and share knowledge about the optimal use of IT in education and research,
- SURF as a service provider, in which the SURF organisation provides a reliable, state-of-the-art range of services that has been created in consultation with the members and
- As an innovation workspace, where we create an environment in which members can collaborate on complex innovation issues with each other and with the SURF organisation in an optimal way. We choose to tackle these issues with an ecosystem approach that brings together various parties, agreements, and technologies to achieve a solution.
Launch of first innovation zone: state of the art (cyber)safety
Within SURF's role as innovation workspace, we are working together on nine innovation zones. The first innovation zone started in 2021: State of the art (cyber)security. The ambition of this zone is that all the member institutions and the sector as a whole are and remain resilient to cyber threats. Four roadmaps have been drawn up to help achieve this ambition.
Because cyber security is the responsibility of the individual institutions, the roadmaps focus on everything that institutions want to do together, have in common and where it is efficient to organise something centrally. Solidarity is central to this and institutions have the room to maintain their own pace.
Roadmaps state of the art (cyber)security
Two of the four roadmaps in the innovation zone that started first, state of the art (cyber)safety, have now been developed further. They are: 'In control together' and 'Technology, awareness and skills'. 🠦
1 | In control together
The roadmap 'In control together' focuses on the organisational and policy-related aspects of cyber security. On the one hand, by helping institutions to become in control and to start working in a risk-based way. On the other hand, by making sector-wide agreements on frameworks and standards frameworks, so that all institutions have a basic level and can work together as effectively as possible.
2 | Technology, awareness and skills
The roadmap 'Technology, awareness and skills' focuses on technical and executive measures that help institutions become more resilient. It is important to approach this jointly, for example with a reference architecture, sector-wide crisis plan and agreements on basic measures. In this way, institutions can optimally help each other and exchange knowledge. In addition, institutions want to be able to act on risks and see the effect of risk-reducing measures.
Formulation of the new SURF Strategy
"We have talked to members and other stakeholders, and we have listened carefully to the members’ needs and wishes. This involved the Members’ Council, the CSCs, the Scientific Technical Council, and the Supervisory Board. The SURF organisation has also provided a lot of input, with lessons from the past and ambitions for the future. We have tested and developed ideas together in webinars, meetings with managers and team leaders and the Works Council." - SURF Board of directors
Download SURF Strategy 2022-2027