Ahold Delhaize and Erasmus University Rotterdam to create PhD positions for cybersecurity research

Zaandam, the Netherlands, January 18, 2022 - We are very excited to share today the news about the collaboration between Ahold Delhaize’s Information Security Office and Erasmus School of Law of Erasmus University Rotterdam. Ahold Delhaize will sponsor one of three PhD cybersecurity fellowships to students, focusing on studies of cybersecurity-related human risk while having in mind our dynamic business model.  

This unique collaboration began in the fall of 2020 when Erasmus School of Law presented Ahold Delhaize with the first-ever Cyber Security Annual Report Index Trophy for cybersecurity transparency regarding the way Ahold Delhaize deals with cyber challenges. The award opened the path for a possible collaboration on a multidimensional research project using a scientific approach answering, “What works?” intending to reduce the cybersecurity risk of our biggest asset, our associates.  

It is well established that one of the largest cybersecurity risks companies face today is the human factor. We cannot deny that humans are the primary attack vector. Hence, a key goal is to determine how to manage and measure risk from the human perspective. Ahold Delhaize’s business model is constantly evolving, users are mobile, the network perimeter is no longer there, and our associates are spread in different continents with substantial cultural differences.  

The contribution of work these students do is expected to be twofold; academic and practical. Besides Ahold Delhaize, other companies, academic institutions, and individuals ought to benefit from the study. We hope that the study findings will help to establish an approach to human risk that is effective, efficient, and measurable by adding to the contextual body of knowledge on cybersecurity risks. 

Florence Mottay, SVP Global Information Security says, Cyber security has become a true societal challenge and I am proud of how we at Ahold Delhaize have been engaging in many initiatives to help protect our communities. Along these lines, I am thrilled to be partnering with Erasmus to deepen our understanding of the human factor in cyber security. I look forward to our collaboration and am eager to see the creative ideas that will come out of this research. 

Press release issued by Erasmus University Rotterdam can be found here in both English and Dutch.