Second socio-economic study on the cybersecurity sector in Belgium
The Belgian cybersecurity sector has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years. But to continue growing, it needs to find 4,000 more talented individuals. Agoria is calling for measures to support SMEs.
From €1.58 billion in 2021 to €2.61 billion in 2024, representing a 65% jump in turnover. Added value has also increased by more than 50% to €915 million. The sector, which comprises 732 companies and organizations, also appears to be creating many jobs at the same time. The number of full-time jobs has risen by 52% in three years to reach 9,750 in 2024.
These are the initial conclusions of the second socio-economic study on the cybersecurity sector in Belgium conducted by Agoria, in collaboration with the Solvay Business School, the Ministry of Defense, and the members and partners of CMiB (Cyber Made in Belgium). The report, based on a survey of cybersecurity professionals in Belgium conducted during the spring and summer of 2025, compares the evolution of the cybersecurity market since the first study published in 2022.
The growth rate will remain high in the coming years. Agoria expects annual growth of 15.9%, which means a doubling of turnover between 2025 and 2030. What’s more, the sector exports. No less than 22.1% of cybersecurity services are provided abroad!
The war for talent: a persistent challenge
The downside of this strong growth is that the talent shortage remains acute. With an unemployment rate of 12.4% and 4,000 unfilled vacancies for cybersecurity experts in Belgium, the sector continues to face a structural shortage. To put this into perspective: the vacancy rate for cybersecurity is much higher than in the rest of the IT sector (5.3%) or in the Belgian economy as a whole (3.9%).
This is despite the number of programs that have increased significantly in recent years in Flanders (20), Wallonia (19), and Brussels (11), in addition to more than 40 programs in regular and non-regular education.
Unfortunately, says Saskia Van Uffelen, Future Workforce Manager at Agoria, the few hundred graduates per year are not enough to fill the gap. “We urgently need greater cooperation with colleges, universities, and other educational institutions. Cybersecurity knowledge needs to be integrated into education much earlier, and not just in digital training.”
Companies still too vulnerable
Remarkably, many SMEs still suffer from what the sector calls “cyber poverty.” They invest too little in security and therefore remain vulnerable. However, investing in cybersecurity is not an unnecessary luxury, as the number of attacks increased by 165% in 2025, reaching an average of 275 per day (Checkpoint, 2025). In 2024, no less than one in four Belgian companies will be affected, according to an analysis by Proximus.
In the meantime, the sector is not standing still. For example, Agoria and its cyber business group (Cyber Made in Belgium – CMiB) have developed several free initiatives to support SMEs, such as Cyberstart.be in collaboration with VLAIO and walhub, Cyberboost (14 hours of online cyber training) and, recently, the ‘Cyber Risk Scan’, which helps companies identify their vulnerabilities.
A cybersecurity policy at all levels
Agoria is calling on all policy makers for help: targeted support measures for SMEs, more public-private partnerships, and additional investment in cyber training. Schools also need to pay more attention to cybersecurity… and sooner rather than later.
“Admittedly, there are more training courses available, and they are of much better quality than five years ago. Nevertheless, it is still not enough,” says Eric Van Cangh, Cyber Made in Belgium Leader, Agoria. The threat continues to grow. The recent attack on Brussels Airport showed this once again. “Companies, large and small, but also citizens, must be much more proactive in making cybersecurity a priority. It starts with good ‘cyber hygiene’, but the ambition should actually be much higher!”
