From Interconnections to Zero Trust

As a global player in agricultural machinery, Dewulf has a great deal at stake. Cybersecurity is therefore not a side issue, but an absolute priority. Kevin Ervinck, IT Infrastructure Manager at Dewulf, takes a multilayered security approach with aspida as a long-term partner. After ten years of working together, choosing aspida is a matter of course: "We value the personal approach of a small, specialised team and the confidence that someone is always ready to assist us, even when it wasn't planned."

Dewulf has grown into a global player in agricultural machinery for potatoes and root crops, with locations in Belgium, the Netherlands, Romania, and more recently North America. But sites across the world also mean a complex IT infrastructure.

"With four people in Belgium, we manage the IT infrastructure of all our locations," says Kevin. Although Kevin himself has a background in cybersecurity, he consciously chooses to bring in external expertise. "It is reassuring to have a partner who can help us and think along with us. Cybersecurity is the fastest-evolving domain within IT. You need to be constantly aware of emerging threats and appropriate solutions." And that expertise is exactly what they found at aspida.

Cybersecurity is not a single solution, but a combination of different solutions across different layers. "At every level you need certain security solutions," Kevin explains. "At the same time, those solutions must not be restrictive for the business. Everything needs to remain workable."

Over the past few years, aspida has delivered several projects at Dewulf:

• Interconnections and SD-WAN: All sites are securely connected to one another, with secured routes to the cloud and the internet. In Romania, for example, they provided redundancy via a wireless link. "Aspida tested everything thoroughly in advance," says Kevin. "Nothing was left to chance."
• EDR replacement: When the existing Endpoint Detection and Response solution was due for replacement, aspida had multiple products compete against each other. "They did the pre-selection, and we then determined which solution was the best fit."
• ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access): Laptops are now protected on an always-on basis, even outside the corporate network. "Whether you are at the airport or in a hotel, you are protected," says Kevin. "That is crucial for a company where people travel frequently."
• NAC (Network Access Control): This project is coming up on the roadmap. "NAC acts as a kind of digital gatekeeper that checks every device for identity and security before it is allowed to connect to the network. Once access is granted, the device only has access to the specific resources the user actually needs."

Dewulf has now been working with aspida for ten years. Kevin describes their collaboration as personal, direct, and no-nonsense: "When the pressure is on, for example, a firewall that becomes unreachable due to a configuration error, there is always someone ready to help. That trust and flexibility is invaluable."

But it is not just about commitment, it is also about knowledge. "The entire team has technical expertise," Kevin emphasises. "You can talk to anyone about complex issues. That is what makes the difference between a partner and a supplier."

Their collaboration works in both directions: sometimes Kevin comes with a question, sometimes aspida comes with a new solution. "They know our environment inside out," says Kevin. "They know what we are working on and proactively think about what could be improved." That makes choosing aspida a natural decision. Every single day.

Cybersecurity never stands still. The world is growing more complex, people share more information, companies make more connections. Aspida stays ahead of the curve by meeting new vendors and proposing solutions that are relevant.

"You have to dare to think outside your comfort zone," says Kevin. "We consult with aspida regularly. They help us make the right choices, without us having to figure everything out ourselves."

Recently, Kevin took part in the Cybersecurity Leaders Roundtables, a roundtable event organised by aspida in Blankenberge. "Not a sales event, but interaction between IT managers. You learn from each other, hear what challenges others are facing. It was insightful, and it fits aspida's approach: thinking long-term, not in quick wins."

The message is clear: "We are in a good place. And that feels safe."