At Howest University of Applied Sciences, Kurt established an international cybersecurity programme that set new standards for learning and innovation. Earlier this month, DataNews published how Kurt has switched his academic career for a new adventure at Capyx where he channels his expertise to lead the cybersecurity division with a fresh vision.

As of September, Capyx has expanded its cybersecurity business line, focusing on operations at three levels: staffing, project work, and product development. At the product development level, Capyx offers the exclusive distribution of SBOM Studio in Belgium and Luxembourg — a Canadian product designed to ensure corporate-level transparency in anticipation of the European Cyber Resilience Act, which will be enforced in 2025.

Kurt: "This act mandates developers of digital components to showcase transparency in their cybersecurity processes, ensuring the future security of their products. Previously, updates occurred only at the product level, leaving components exposed, which the EU aims to prevent with this new regulation. You could compare it to introducing a GDPR for digital products starting in 2025, emphasising security-by-design principles. SBOM Studio enables developers to maintain such transparency and swiftly pinpoint issues by linking continuously with official vulnerability databases, thus complying with this legislation. Moreover, compliance with the European Cyber Resilience Act will be the sole method to earn a CE label for your products. And with our product, Capyx is pioneering in Belgium; offering a turnkey solution that facilitates both engineers and software developers."

The decision to hire young talent is both strategic and innovative. Kurt: "In project and product environments, we believe in leveraging the enthusiasm and adaptability of young professionals. While other environments may demand senior profiles, here, juniors can thrive under the right guidance and maybe even grow into senior level after a period of only two years. Our ultimate goal is to develop these young professionals into seasoned experts who can lead future initiatives.”

The internal training at Capyx plays a crucial role in developing these young professionals. With a hybrid system in place, there's a synergy between seasoned experts and newcomers. This collaboration fosters mentorship and cross-pollination of ideas, ensuring that young employees grow quickly in their roles. 

Kurt's approach to integrating young talent involves the development of a structured mentorship culture based in Capyx’s headquarters. By encouraging in-person collaboration, Capyx ensures that young professionals benefit from the wealth of knowledge available from experienced colleagues, while also contributing fresh perspectives.

Kurt: "The truth is; physical presence allows for real-time learning and mentorship. Such a mentality is beneficial for young talent; give them some water and sunlight, and they grow! Next to that, we are ready to build structures, provide mentorships, and organise performance and evaluation discussions. Capyx’ cybersecurity division itself is a junior in cybersecurity where I join as a senior. Through this mentorship, we can all grow and shape the future of our cybersecurity division. Making it a symbiosis where we prevent knowledge leaving the company when people decide to explore new challenges in their careers. And that's where the real test of the investment lies; each time young individuals enter the company, we will be better equipped to transfer our existing knowledge among one another."

The shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals is a global issue, with Europe facing a deficit of around 200 000 candidates. Capyx's strategy to invest in well-educated young individuals is a proactive measure to address this gap. By nurturing talent from institutions like Howest, Capyx ensures a steady pipeline of experts ready to meet client demands.

Kurt: "Our young recruits from Howest are particularly well-prepared, possessing a two-year advantage over graduates from other institutions. And that is not my personal statement; it was one of our clients who told us that. Moreover; up to 20% of the Belgian cybersecurity experts have completed their academic education at Howest – definitely proof of the quality of this institution. While I don’t wish to disrespect other institutions, this head start is invaluable in a field where staying ahead of threats is crucial.”

Capyx is not just about hiring young talent, but about creating an environment of continuous learning as well. Kurt emphasises the importance of funded research as a means to stay abreast of new technologies and trends. This initiative allows employees to develop expertise in emerging areas without the prohibitive costs of formal education.

Kurt: "Research is a powerful tool for building future-oriented knowledge. It's a practice not often seen in cybersecurity firms, but one that we believe will give us a competitive edge. Naturally, we cannot solely focus on research, but it does remain a beautiful way to gain more knowledge about the future of cybersecurity. One will always have something new to learn about, and me personally – I’m not planning on stopping any time soon."

Then whether it is in cybersecurity or any other field; let’s agree not to ever stop learning, indeed!