Written by Jordan Hardy

Resilience as a Driver of Prosperity: Belgium as a Digital Asset

Cybersecurity is no longer merely a technical detail; it has become a fundamental prerequisite for economic stability, national defense, and societal continuity. In an increasingly digital world, not only is our dependence on technology growing, but so is our vulnerability.

According to Alex Driesen, CEO of Toreon, this is precisely where the core challenge—and the opportunity—lies:

“It is all of our moral duty in the interest of our prosperity.”

Alex Driesen

This moral dimension is not an abstraction. When organizations fail to maintain adequate cybersecurity, the damage rarely remains confined to themselves. It spreads through supply chains and sectors and can ultimately affect society as a whole. This also concerns critical infrastructure such as hospitals and energy providers. Driesen is clear:

“If we do not have this under control, we put not only ourselves but also others at risk.”

Cyber resilience therefore becomes a collective responsibility rather than an individual choice.

A Cyber-trusted region

At the same time, this vulnerability also presents an economic opportunity. According to Driesen, Belgium can position itself internationally as a “cyber-trusted region.” He puts it bluntly:

“There is an opportunity here to create new prosperity.”

This is not about additional labels or formalities, but about reputation.

A country where digital security is so deeply embedded that trust comes automatically. Belgium already has strong foundations for this, with a growing ecosystem of public and private cybersecurity stakeholders. Organizations such as the Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium (CCB), Agoria’s Cyber Made in Belgium initiative (CMIB), Voka, and the Cyber Security Coalition foster collaboration between industry, government, and knowledge institutions. Several Toreon employees actively contribute to these initiatives.

The idea is simple: if Belgian organizations become known for their digital trustworthiness, it will strengthen exports, confidence, and competitiveness. By strategically positioning itself in this way, Belgium can further develop homegrown technology and increase its international value. Through a broad coalition of federal and regional governments alongside private-sector players, a strong international brand identity can be built—one that not only strengthens the resilience of the economic fabric but also creates new prosperity through export growth across all sectors.

Within this ecosystem, Toreon plays an active and tangible role. The company helps organizations manage cyber risks, trains and coaches development teams worldwide in building secure software, and educates cybersecurity professionals. In doing so, it goes beyond responding to risks and helps build resilience in a structural and sustainable way.

Nevertheless, maturity levels remain uneven. Some sectors are highly advanced, while others still too often view cybersecurity as a cost rather than an investment. That gap is gradually narrowing under the pressure of regulation, customer expectations, and an increasingly aggressive threat landscape.

The conclusion is clear: cyber resilience is both a collective strategy and an economic lever.

Trust will become the most valuable currency in the digital economy, and resilience is how it is earned.