In a geopolitically tense Europe, demand for cleared cybersecurity professionals is exploding. MVPeople has a network of professionals with relevant clearances.
lack confidence in the national cyber response to an attack, an alarming gap in collective defence
Cybersecurity in defence and security is about protecting classified systems, military and security information and the supply chain of the defence industry. National security and defence largely fall outside NIS2; the main frameworks here are the Dutch Government Information Security Regulation (VIR), the rules for classified information (VIR-BI), the BIO2 and NATO standards. Many roles require a security screening and a Dutch Certificate of No Objection (VGB). In a geopolitically tense Europe, demand for cleared cybersecurity professionals is growing fast. The main threats are espionage and sabotage by nation-states, hybrid warfare, compromise of classified systems and insider threats at security services. Defence and security organisations therefore mainly hire CISOs with a defence background and clearance, cyber intelligence and DFIR specialists, cleared red teamers and penetration testers and GRC consultants who know the VIR and NATO standards.
Nation-state espionage & sabotage
Hybrid warfare (cyber + physical)
Compromise of classified systems
Insider threats at security services
CISOs with defence background & clearance
Cyber Intelligence & DFIR specialists
Red Team / Penetration testers (cleared)
GRC consultants (VIR, NATO standards)
48u
Average time-to-shortlist
97%
Clients return
7.000+
Professionals in network
100%
Cybersecurity focus
Dutch defence and security services mainly follow the Government Information Security Regulation (VIR), the rules for classified information (VIR-BI), the BIO2 and NATO standards. National security and defence largely fall outside NIS2. Suppliers to the defence industry can still fall under the Cyberbeveiligingswet if they operate in a regulated sector. Many roles require a security screening.
A defence organisation mainly needs CISOs with a defence background and the right clearance, supported by cyber intelligence and DFIR specialists who can investigate espionage and sabotage by nation-states. Cleared red teamers and penetration testers test resilience, and GRC consultants who know the VIR and NATO standards ensure compliance. Insider threats also call for attention to access management and monitoring.
Yes, MVPeople Group has a network of professionals with relevant clearances for defence and security assignments, within a total network of more than 7,000 pre-screened cybersecurity professionals. MVPeople responds to every request within 4 hours and delivers introduction CVs for interim roles within 24 hours. Keep in mind that a new security screening for a candidate without a valid clearance adds lead time.
Interim fits specialist assignments with a clear end, such as a red team exercise, an incident investigation or a VIR compliance project. Permanent hiring fits structural roles in security management and intelligence, where continuity and trust matter. Because screening takes time, it is wise to start early on either route. Permanent hiring through MVPermanent typically takes 2 to 4 weeks, excluding the time a security screening takes.
Last updated by Mathijs Visser, Co-founder and Lead Consultant MVPeople Group.
MVPeople Group places cybersecurity professionals across all NIS2 sectors.
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