The Hague’s approach to cybersecurity highlights an important point that is often overlooked in discussions about the global shortage of cybersecurity professionals: attracting talent is only half the challenge. Retaining the people already working in the sector is equally important.

The city’s research, conducted with MultiTeam Solutions, suggests that professionals who feel confident in their abilities and supported by their managers experience lower stress, burnout and intentions to leave.

This underlines the role that leadership and workplace culture can play in strengthening the cybersecurity workforce.

The shift from technical specialist to manager can be particularly challenging. Expertise in cybersecurity does not automatically translate into the skills needed to lead people, manage workloads, provide constructive feedback and support professional development. Investing in these leadership capabilities could therefore be an effective way to improve both employee wellbeing and retention.

The Hague’s decision to offer free leadership training to cybersecurity professionals from November 2026 is a practical response to these findings.

More importantly, it reflects a broader lesson for organisations: cybersecurity resilience depends not only on technology and technical expertise, but also on the people and leadership practices behind them.

At the same time, the Cybersecurity Blueprint for Civil Society demonstrates how municipalities can extend cybersecurity support beyond government and large organisations to charities, community groups, sports clubs and volunteer-led foundations.

Together, these initiatives show how local governments can strengthen cyber resilience by investing in both organisational networks and the people who make those networks work.