Royal Koopmans is a Dutch family-owned company with a long history in the food and manufacturing industry. It operates two business units: Koopmans Meel and Koopmans Food Ingredients. With 180 employees and critical intellectual property to protect, IT Manager Ivo Reitsma has made cybersecurity a key priority since joining in 2018.
The challenge: A hard-to-reach audience
Before Guardey, security awareness efforts at Koopmans were mostly ad hoc. “We did phishing themes now and then, mostly spearfishing-related. But it was always reactive. If something was in the news or we saw a WhatsApp scam going around, we’d share it.”
That kind of approach only resonated with some of the workforce. “It was effective for part of the population. But for a large part, definitely not. It really depends on how well you can reach someone.”
In a production environment, reaching everyone is easier said than done. Especially when critical knowledge lives with people who aren’t always behind a desk. “In production, you have people who handle technical or electrical drawings. They’re not always computer-minded, but they do hold very valuable information. That group is hard to engage. They tend to click before thinking.”
“Cybersecurity was always a priority for me. But with NIS2, the company realized we needed to allocate real resources."
Still, momentum grew. Not just from within IT, but also externally. “Cybersecurity was always a priority for me. But with NIS2, the company realized we needed to allocate real resources. It became clear there were formal requirements.”
Not everyone welcomed the extra attention right away. “We’re a relatively small organization. People wear many hats. So they quickly resist: ‘Do I have to do this too now?’”
The solution: Duolingo for cybersecurity
To find a better approach, Koopmans compared several options, including some very traditional ones. Most didn’t stick. “We looked at a number of training solutions. But I didn’t find them interactive enough. Not interesting, and the training content was often not relevant.”
What sealed the deal for Guardey was its practicality, and the fact that it’s trusted by peers. “Another food company in our region uses Guardey too. That gave me confidence. And in the end, it also works for us. The training content is generally relevant and interesting.”
Royal Koopmans supports the team’s engagement by handing out seasonal prizes. “People are competitive. We hand out prizes at the end of each season for the best player and the best team on the leaderboard.”
To make Guardey’s program stick, Ivo positioned it as something familiar. “I called it Duolingo for cybersecurity. It doesn’t take long and most of the time, you learn something interesting for both work and your private situation.”
The mobile app is especially helpful for production staff, who aren’t always near a computer. “We definitely use the mobile app. It was a key reason for me to go into the factory and say, ‘Hey, you can now do this on your phone.’”
“We definitely use the mobile app. It was a key reason for me to go into the factory and say, ‘Hey, you can now do this on your phone.’”
To keep a pulse on phishing awareness, Koopmans uses Guardey to send out regular phishing simulations. “We want to send at least one phishing email each quarter and combine that with spear phishing for specific departments where it’s needed.”
The result: Measurable progress and team pride
The ability to show proof of learning progress with Guardey’s insights and monthly reports matters. Not just internally, but during audits too. “For auditors, it’s great to have something you can show. Who did what, when. That was one of our main reasons for starting with Guardey.”
Participation is climbing steadily. “Our supply chain team is super competitive. They keep switching places at the top of the leaderboard. And when HR ends up in first place, they’re proud. Individual competition works really well.”
But it’s not just about stats or streaks. The culture around security is changing. “People recognize phishing better and know what to do. But most importantly, they participate and talk about it. That’s already a win.”
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