From an incident to a mature ISMS and sustainable cyber resilience
Rabelink Logistics is a logistics service provider with roots in the Dutch Achterhoek region and a growing international scope. The family business combines transport, warehousing and fulfillment with a down-to-earth, people-oriented culture. Cooperation and continuous improvement are part of the organisation's DNA. From that mentality, Rabelink sees information security as a logical part of professional and future-proof work.
Challenge
An earlier cyber incident made the risks of digitisation palpable for Rabelink. The incident was resolved quickly and without major damage, but the impact was clear: information security needed to be structured, organisation-wide and future-oriented.
In addition, the upcoming NIS2 legislation created additional urgency. Rabelink wanted not only to comply with legal requirements, but to integrate cyber security as a strategic foundation of business operations.
Gijs Nijman, Manager of Technology, describes it this way, "Awareness begins with an understanding of our own vulnerabilities."
With that insight, Rabelink went in search of a partner that is strong on content but also works pragmatically. That's how they ended up with Northwave.
The solution: Implementation of a mature ISMS through ISO 27001 FastTrack
Together with Northwave, Rabelink started the ISO 27001 FastTrack trajectory for setting up a complete Information Security Management System (ISMS). The track was characterised by clear structure, realistic planning and close cooperation.
Organisation-wide involvement
From the start, management was actively involved and a project team was assembled with sufficient capacity. This proved crucial to achieving all the milestones.
As Rabelink puts it, "Information security is not an IT party, but a joint responsibility."
Northwave provided practical templates, guidelines and guidance, enabling the team to work independently and effectively. Rabelink's culture - focused on collaboration and improvement - ensured high adoption and rapid progress.
Result
After the audit, Rabelink received a special compliment: "For an organisation implementing ISO 27001 for the first time, in one year you have established a mature and well embedded ISMS."
Key deliverables
- A mature ISMS that structurally controls risks
- Clear insight into strengths and areas for improvement
- Organisation-wide awareness of cyber risks
- Fast decision-making thanks to involved management
- Strategic preparation for NIS2
- Continued cooperation with Northwave through Rapid Response (24/7 incident support)
collaboration
Rabelink experienced the cooperation with Northwave as professional, practical and pleasant:
"Northwave was substantively strong as well as pragmatic. There was a nice balance between guidance and being able to do it yourself, and thanks to the clear structure and planning, the whole process was tight and professional."
There was also great enthusiasm from Northwave. Luuk van Empel, Sr. Security Consultant & Auditor:
"Management and project team were motivated and well organised from day one. This allowed us to achieve all milestones on schedule."
Lessons & lessons learned
Key insights from the process:
- Collaboration between departments is essential
- Awareness grows through insight into risks
- Structural cooperation is the basis for sustainable security
- An ISMS gives peace of mind: risks are continuously monitored and managed
Gijs Nijman summarises, "This trajectory has shown us that cooperation is essential for sustainable security."
Long-term benefits
Rabelink is now reaping the benefits of the ISMS on a daily basis:
- Early identification of risks
- A culture of continuous improvement
- Organisation-wide responsibility for cyber security
- Stronger trust among customers and partners
"Our customers see that we take cyber security seriously - that reinforces trust and opens doors."
For Rabelink, the ISMS is thus not just a technical foundation, but a strategic tool for professionalisation, awareness and resilience.
Conclusion
With a mature ISMS, ISO 27001 certification and ongoing collaboration through Northwave Rapid Response, Rabelink is ready for the cyber challenges of today and tomorrow. The organisation consciously opts for continuous learning, improvement and professionalisation.