Brussels water company Vivaqua sees rise in cyberattacks

Brussels water company Vivaqua is experiencing a significant rise in cyberattacks, including daily phishing attempts and more serious threats like Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks. The company noted in its 2025 management report that the increase is particularly pronounced within the current unstable geopolitical climate.

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We observe that the number of phishing attempts and other cyberattacks is increasing, especially in the particularly unstable geopolitical context in which we find ourselves.

Vivaqua highlighted its vulnerability due to its location in Brussels, a hub for international institutions such as NATO and the European Commission. As a provider of essential services, the company faces a heightened risk compared to other public operators. Last year, Vivaqua successfully repelled three DDoS attacks, which aimed to overload and disable its website, though the impact was limited to four hours of inaccessibility.

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Since we are located in the territory where international institutions such as NATO and the European Commission are based, and we also provide essential services to the population, we run a greater risk than other public operators.

Beyond large-scale attacks, Vivaqua's spokesperson Saar Vanderplaetsen confirmed the daily reception of numerous cybersecurity alerts, ranging from phishing attempts to viruses embedded in files, all of which are effectively blocked by their defense systems. The company is committed to enhancing its cybersecurity protocols to proactively identify and mitigate potential threats throughout 2026.

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In addition, we receive very many cybersecurity notifications of varying severity, such as phishing attempts and viruses in files. These are stopped by our defense systems.