A hackers perspective on data

Toin Pijnenburg

We often talk about data as an asset. Hackers do too — but for very different reasons.

In this session, Toin shares what happens when you stop looking at data from the perspective of the organisation and start looking at it through the eyes of an attacker. Based on his experience as a CISO in critical infrastructure environments, including the Dutch drinking water sector and regional water authorities, he explains how threat actors identify valuable information, connect seemingly innocent data points, and exploit weaknesses that many organisations overlook.

This presentation is a wake-up call for anyone working with data, analytics, governance, or digital transformation. Because understanding the hacker’s perspective is not just about cybersecurity — it is about understanding the real value, risk, and exposure of data.

Toin Pijnenburg

Teammanager ITWoonstichting 'thuis'

Toin brings a rare combination of expertise in data, cybersecurity, and critical infrastructure. Having worked in the Dutch drinking water sector and for regional water authorities, including in the role of CISO, he has spent years dealing with the protection of essential systems and sensitive information in environments where digital resilience is directly linked to public trust and continuity.

His perspective on data is shaped not only by how organisations create value from it, but by how attackers identify value in it. That dual perspective makes him a compelling speaker on the hacker’s view of data. He understands how threat actors look at information: what attracts them, where they see weaknesses, and how seemingly ordinary data can become a target or a gateway.

What makes Toin particularly relevant for this topic is his ability to connect boardroom-level strategy with the reality of cyber risk in practice. He speaks from experience, not theory, and helps audiences understand what organisations can learn when they stop looking at data only as an asset and start seeing it through the eyes of an attacker.