SURFshort podcast
What you need to know about... network resilience
You only realise how dependent you are on a network… when it goes down. In this episode of SURFshort, Harold Teunissen, Head of Network at SURF, and presenter Eva van Dam discuss network resilience. No institution is alone in this. Our network expert’s call to action: “We need to get used to the fact that things don’t always just work.”
What is this episode about?
This episode of SURFshort covers the following topics:
- Resilience: what is it?
- How to make your institution resilient
- The responsibility of being and becoming resilient
- Dependency as an element of resilience
- Resilience in the Netherlands
Why is this relevant?
We are dependent on our network infrastructure. The fire in early May 2026 at the Almere data centre made that clear once again: educational institutions, systems and services went down because a single physical location was affected. We have become accustomed to computer systems always working, but behind them lies a complex chain of networks, power supplies, data centres and security.
Even with smart technology and good preparation, there is always a risk of disruption due to, for example, fire, power cuts or cyberattacks. That is precisely why network resilience is so important: not only ensuring that systems are secure, but also thinking about a plan B in case they temporarily fail. As our network expert Harold says in the podcast: “We will have to get used to the fact that digital systems are not always automatically available, and our institutions must be prepared for that.”
What does this mean for organisations?
Organisations must work together to make their networks more resilient. Practising together, devising scenarios to be prepared, and having alternatives ready. And helping one another when it does happen.
Institutions’ dependence on their networks has only grown in recent years. With that dependence comes a responsibility: if the network is inaccessible (think of the recent fire in Almere or the cable break at Ikea), something else is needed. It is important for institutions to consider what scenarios might occur and how they can reduce their dependence on the network.
What can you do right now?
As an institution, you can already take steps such as:
- Understanding the dependencies in this area
- Devising alternative scenarios in the event of a crisis
- Working together to make the sector more resilient
About SURFshort
Every month, we bring you a new SURFshort that gives you a 15-minute update on technological developments in education and research.