At Nedscaper, social return is not just a commitment on paper. It is something we bring to life through action, connection, and contribution.This year, that commitment took shape across two countries and two very different but deeply connected initiatives. In South Africa, Nedscaper partnered with WeThinkCode to inspire the next generation of technology and cybersecurity talent. In the Netherlands, our team came together at De Groene Afslag as part of our social return commitment linked to our collaboration with the municipality of Gooische Meren.

Together, these moments reflect what we believe community impact should look like: practical, meaningful, and rooted in long-term value.

They also show how Nedscaper continues to live its values beyond technology, using our knowledge, people, and partnerships to support communities, create opportunities, and contribute to a more resilient digital future.

Building future cybersecurity talent with WeThinkCode

In South Africa, Nedscaper partnered with WeThinkCode to host cybersecurity and career-focused workshops at both the Johannesburg and Cape Town campuses. Across the two events, our teams engaged with approximately 300 students, with close to 200 students attending in Johannesburg and almost 100 attending in Cape Town.

WeThinkCode is a South African software development academy focused on developing tech talent and creating opportunities for aspiring software engineers and technology professionals. The students who joined the sessions were technically curious, highly motivated, and eager to understand where their skills could take them in the wider technology industry.

For Nedscaper, the goal was clear: to introduce students to cybersecurity in an accessible, practical, and inspiring way.

Cybersecurity can often seem complex from the outside. It is a field filled with specialist terminology, fast-moving technologies, and a constantly changing threat landscape. But behind every security operation, every detection rule, every secure cloud environment, and every incident response process are people, analysts, developers, engineers, consultants, and problem-solvers.

That was the story we wanted to show students.

Not just what cybersecurity is, but where they could fit into it.

Johannesburg: energy, curiosity, and real career inspiration

The Johannesburg session brought together around 200 students, including second-year students, for a high-energy event focused on motivation, career exposure, and hands-on engagement.

Hans opened the session with a motivational talk reflecting on Youth Day, youth unemployment, and the role companies like Nedscaper can play in helping bridge the gap between education and meaningful employment. The message set a powerful tone for the day: skills development is not just about training people for jobs; it is about creating pathways into industries where their talent can grow.

“Social return becomes meaningful when it creates real opportunity. For us, engaging with students is not only about introducing them to cybersecurity, but about showing them that there is a place for their talent in this industry.” said Hans Kroll, Managing Partner, Nedscaper

From there, the Nedscaper team gave students a practical look into different roles within the business. Bruce and Cyril spoke about the responsibilities of the development team, what developers contribute to cybersecurity, and how software skills can open the door to broader security career paths.

Thabo and Hope then introduced students to the world of cybersecurity, helping them understand how the field works, why it matters, and what different career journeys can look like. One of the strongest moments of the day came when students heard Hope’s story: a former WeThinkCode student who is now a Nedscaper intern analyst. That connection made the opportunity feel real.

It shifted the conversation from “this could be interesting” to “this could be possible for me”.

“The engagement in Johannesburg was incredible. The students were not just listening, they were asking questions, challenging themselves, and genuinely exploring cybersecurity as a future career path.”

- Thabo Mnyayiza

Brandan, supported by Mondli, facilitated the activity and competition element of the day, which brought out strong participation and a healthy level of competitiveness. The session ended with a Q&A and networking opportunity, where students continued engaging with Nedscaper interns, analysts, developers and customer success team members.

The impact was clear. Students showed strong interest in cybersecurity and WeThinkCode requested that Nedscaper return for another visit, with a future sports day also mentioned as an opportunity for further engagement.

Cape Town: making cybersecurity accessible

The Cape Town event carried the same sense of purpose and energy. The session began with an introduction to Nedscaper, who we are, what we do, the services we provide and why cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important, especially as AI continues to accelerate change across industries.

Students were then introduced to the wide range of career paths within cybersecurity, including SOC operations, cloud security, networking, governance, compliance and penetration testing. The session also explored Artificial Intelligence, including the rise of Agentic AI and how developers can begin embracing these technologies to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry.

“One of the most powerful parts of the day was seeing the shift in understanding. Many students arrived with limited knowledge of cybersecurity, but left curious, excited and actively considering it as a career path.”

- Nhlaloenhle Moyo, Associate MXDR Manager

The Cape Town team also ran interactive Kahoot competitions, which were a major highlight. Top performers received Microsoft certification vouchers, while the winning student received a laptop. Mentorship opportunities and invitations into Nedscaper’s day programme also generated strong excitement among the students.

After the sessions, Nedscaper sponsored lunch and refreshments, creating space for networking and one-on-one conversations. Students approached the team to ask questions, connect on LinkedIn, seek career advice and learn more about how to enter the cybersecurity industry.

One of the most meaningful outcomes came from WeThinkCode leadership. After the Cape Town event, the WeThinkCode CEO expressed interest in building an ongoing relationship with Nedscaper, highlighting the value of the session and the potential to continue collaborating through speaking opportunities, mentorship and a future talent pipeline.

The feedback from the WeThinkCode media team also captured the heart of the event: “you guys made things so easy to understand.”

That matters.

Because making cybersecurity easier to understand is part of making it more accessible. And making it more accessible is how we help more people see themselves in the industry.

Social return in the Netherlands: De Braai at De Groene Afslag

While our South African teams were engaging future tech talent, our colleagues in the Netherlands brought another form of social return to life.

Through our collaboration with the municipality of Gooische Meren, Nedscaper committed to a social return activity. Social return was requested as part of the work Nedscaper is carrying out for Gooische Meren, with the intention of contributing beyond the direct scope of the assignment.

That commitment led us to organize our quarterly ‘Braai’ at De Groene Afslag, a circular meeting place in Bussum focused on sustainability, social impact, and new ways of working and living. De Groene Afslag is described as a place where people and organizations come together to explore and experience a more sustainable economy.

It is also a recognized social organization that supports, among others, people with a distance from the labor market.

For Nedscaper, this made it the right place to gather.

But the day was not only about hosting a team event. It was about contributing directly.

Our team rolled up their sleeves and helped build and improve the outdoor area at De Groene Afslag. In doing so, the ‘Braai’ became more than a moment of connection for our people. It became a hands-on contribution to an organization that is actively creating social and environmental impact.

“What made this initiative powerful was that it connected our teams to something bigger than our daily work. Whether in South Africa or the Netherlands, we saw Nedscapers showing up, contributing, and making the impact visible.”

- Thomas Verwer, Founder and CEO Nedscaper

De Groene Afslag brings together a restaurant, meeting and event spaces, a hotel, and a learning environment, all centered around reuse, sustainability, and social responsibility.

By choosing this location and actively contributing to its space, Nedscaper turned a team gathering into a practical example of social return in action.

One shared purpose across two communities

Although the WeThinkCode workshops and the De Groene Afslag Braai took place in different countries and served different communities, they were connected by the same intention.

To contribute where it matters.

In South Africa, that meant using our cybersecurity experience to open doors for students, spark interest in new career paths, and support the development of future talent. In the Netherlands, it meant supporting a social and circular organization through practical action, while strengthening our connection to the community around us.

Both initiatives created value beyond the day itself.

For students, the WeThinkCode events helped turn cybersecurity from an unfamiliar industry into a visible and exciting opportunity. For WeThinkCode, it opened the door to deeper collaboration with Nedscaper around mentorship, industry engagement, and talent development.

For De Groene Afslag, the Braai contributed directly to the development of their outdoor area while supporting their broader role as a hub for sustainability, social responsibility, and future-focused collaboration.

For Nedscaper, both initiatives strengthened something we consider essential: our responsibility to use our position, expertise, and people to create positive impact.

Why social return matters to us

Cybersecurity is often spoken about in terms of technology. Platforms. Detection. Response. Cloud environments. Threat intelligence.

But at its core, cybersecurity is about protection, protecting people, organizations, and society from digital risk.

That is why social return matters to us.

It reflects the same mindset we bring to our customers: look ahead, take responsibility, and build resilience before it is urgently needed.

Through initiatives like WeThinkCode and De Groene Afslag, we are able to extend that mindset into the communities around us. We support skills development, create access to knowledge, encourage curiosity, and contribute to organizations making a difference.

This is not separate from who we are as a cybersecurity company.

It is part of how we build Nedscaper.

A business that grows responsibly. A team that contributes actively. A partner that understands impact beyond technology.

Building more than secure environments

The success of these initiatives shows what is possible when social return becomes part of company culture.

Across Johannesburg and Cape Town, students left with a clearer understanding of cybersecurity and a stronger sense of possibility. Across the Netherlands, our team contributed time and energy to a place built around sustainability, inclusion, and social value.

These are the kinds of moments that build trust, strengthen communities, and create long-term impact.

At Nedscaper, we are proud to play a role in developing future cybersecurity talent, supporting social organizations, and contributing to a more inclusive technology ecosystem.

Because we are not only building secure environments.

We are helping build a stronger future for the people and communities connected to them.