Solid foundations for
IT security & citizen privacy
This is the personal website of Kristof Verslype, cryptographer at Smals, an IT service provider for the Belgian public sector.
I believe that robust cryptography is a fundamental layer for the protection of sensitive assets, including personal data.
In our quickly evolving society, mature organisations see the application of cryptography and privacy protection as a continuous journey, rather than a static state required for compliance reasons.
A core challenge I take at heart is the Integration and agile maintenance of healthy and state-of-the-art cryptography as solid fundamentals to secure assets, and to protect citizens’ privacy, while meeting the business needs.
Domains
Quantum Readiness
One of actual domains is cryptographic maturity of the Belgian public sector, by, among others, applying crypto agility. This way, it is future-proofed against future threats such as powerful quantum computers.
Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology come with a myriad of threats and are poorly regulated. I have experience as technical expert in high-stakes litigations.
Smart pseudonymisation
Replacing citizen identifiers by pseudonyms with clever techniques greatly benefits the citizen’s privacy. At Smals Research, I developed multiple techniques for different use cases.
Core strengths
Robust background
I have a strong academic background and closely collaborate with universities on cryptography, privacy enhancing technologies (PETs), and distributed ledger technology.
Practical mindset
I devise new, innovative privacy-friendly & secure solutions, that are successfully deployed in practice. This practical mindset is key to help organisations in finding the right solutions.
Broad experience
I works since 2011 in the public sector. As finalist of the highly-regarded privacy professional award in 2024, his experience and contributions have been acknowledged by the professional jury.
Recent articles
“Experience without theory is blind, but theory without experience is mere intellectual play.”
Immanuel Kant
Philosopher