Bernd Verhofstadt

Project Overview: ‘SecureSend’ is our strategic initiative to fortify outgoing email security and safeguard our corporate brand. Recognizing the critical importance of email communication integrity, we have implemented a comprehensive suite of security measures.
Security Enhancements:
DMARC Monitoring: Deploying Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) to monitor and protect email traffic against phishing and spoofing attacks.
Corporate Guidelines &… Show more

Project Overview: ‘SecureSend’ is our strategic initiative to fortify outgoing email security and safeguard our corporate brand. Recognizing the critical importance of email communication integrity, we have implemented a comprehensive suite of security measures.
Security Enhancements:
DMARC Monitoring: Deploying Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) to monitor and protect email traffic against phishing and spoofing attacks.
Corporate Guidelines & Awareness: Establishing new corporate guidelines coupled with an awareness campaign to educate employees on best practices for email security.
DKIM & SPF Implementation: Implementing DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) and Sender Policy Framework (SPF) where previously missing, to authenticate outgoing emails and ensure they are trusted by recipient servers.
Business Impact: The ‘SecureSend’ project not only enhances our security posture but also reinforces our brand’s reputation by ensuring that all outgoing communications are verified and protected. This initiative is a testament to our commitment to operational excellence and trustworthiness. Show less

Project Overview: The ‘B2B Identity Evolution’ project represents a significant leap forward in our identity management approach. Transitioning from a B2C to a B2B concept, we have revolutionized the way external identities are handled within our corporate systems.
Innovation in Identity Management: Previously, external users were invited to our platform and provided with a unique username and password. This system, while functional, lacked the sophistication and security that modern… Show more

Project Overview: The ‘B2B Identity Evolution’ project represents a significant leap forward in our identity management approach. Transitioning from a B2C to a B2B concept, we have revolutionized the way external identities are handled within our corporate systems.
Innovation in Identity Management: Previously, external users were invited to our platform and provided with a unique username and password. This system, while functional, lacked the sophistication and security that modern enterprises demand. Our new system empowers users by allowing them to log in with their own existing identities, enhancing both security and user experience.
Business Impact: This transition to a B2B identity model has been implemented across all corporate systems requiring external identities. It simplifies the login process for our partners and clients, ensuring a more secure and seamless interaction with our systems.
Looking Forward: As we continue to refine our identity management strategies, the project stands as a testament to our commitment to security, efficiency, and user-centric innovation. We are proud to have a new standard for external identity management in our corporate environment. Show less

Project Overview: ‘Connect & Discover’ is an innovative ‘Who’s Who’ application designed to enhance user experience within the corporate landscape. This application integrated in Microsoft Teams serves as a comprehensive directory, providing not only employee details but also a visual organogram, corporate services listings, and essential information tailored to user location.
User Experience and Features:
Organogram Views: Visual representation of company hierarchy for easy… Show more

Project Overview: ‘Connect & Discover’ is an innovative ‘Who’s Who’ application designed to enhance user experience within the corporate landscape. This application integrated in Microsoft Teams serves as a comprehensive directory, providing not only employee details but also a visual organogram, corporate services listings, and essential information tailored to user location.
User Experience and Features:
Organogram Views: Visual representation of company hierarchy for easy navigation.
Corporate Services Directory: A detailed list of services with information such as opening hours and contact details.
Location-Based Information: Campus emergency numbers and lab details accessible based on the user’s location.
Employee Properties: Comprehensive employee profiles with search functionality for efficient information retrieval.
Business Impact: ‘Connect & Discover’ transforms the way employees interact with corporate resources and each other. By centralizing critical information and enhancing accessibility, this application fosters a connected and informed workplace environment. Show less

Project Overview: ‘Seamless Search’ is our latest venture into revolutionizing enterprise search capabilities. Built on the robust frameworks of Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Graph technology, this project is designed to seamlessly integrate M365 content in combination with external content while preserving source authorization.
Technological Advancements: The application boasts an enhanced user experience (UX) with personalized results that cater to individual user preferences. Content… Show more

Project Overview: ‘Seamless Search’ is our latest venture into revolutionizing enterprise search capabilities. Built on the robust frameworks of Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Graph technology, this project is designed to seamlessly integrate M365 content in combination with external content while preserving source authorization.
Technological Advancements: The application boasts an enhanced user experience (UX) with personalized results that cater to individual user preferences. Content type-based filters streamline the search process, allowing users to quickly navigate through a wealth of information with precision and ease.
Innovative Features: Key features of ‘Seamless Search’ include:
Personalized Search Experience: Tailored results that adapt to user interactions and preferences.
Content Type Filters: Efficient categorization for a more focused search outcome.
Source Authorization Integrity: External content integration without compromising original access permissions.
Business Impact: ‘Seamless Search’ is not just an application; it’s a gateway to information accessibility and knowledge sharing within the enterprise. It empowers users with the tools they need to find relevant information quickly, enhancing productivity and decision-making across the organization. Show less

Project Overview: In an era where digital security and efficiency are paramount, the ‘Customer Portal’ project stands as a beacon of modernization. We embarked on a transformative journey to overhaul an outdated SharePoint site, infusing it with cutting-edge security protocols and a dynamic management system for contract-based security settings.
Technological Innovation: The new portal is architected on the robust foundation of containerized technology, ensuring scalability and resilience… Show more

Project Overview: In an era where digital security and efficiency are paramount, the ‘Customer Portal’ project stands as a beacon of modernization. We embarked on a transformative journey to overhaul an outdated SharePoint site, infusing it with cutting-edge security protocols and a dynamic management system for contract-based security settings.
Technological Innovation: The new portal is architected on the robust foundation of containerized technology, ensuring scalability and resilience. This state-of-the-art approach not only fortifies our security landscape but also streamlines the user experience.
Business Impact: The migration necessitated a paradigm shift in our business processes. We embraced this change, recognizing the need for agility in today’s fast-paced environment. The result is a seamless, secure, and user-centric platform that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of our discerning clientele.
Looking Forward: As we continue to refine and enhance the Customer Portal, our commitment to excellence remains unwavering. This project is more than a milestone; it’s a testament to our dedication to innovation and customer satisfaction. Show less

Project Context: The ‘Event Platform Evolution’ project heralds a new chapter in our event management capabilities. We transitioned from a SharePoint application to a modern event platform that excels in flexibility and scalability, essential for the evolving demands of event hosting.
Technical Advancements: A containerized application was developed to handle all back-office tasks, ensuring a seamless and secure operation. This application is the cornerstone of our enhanced event management… Show more

Project Context: The ‘Event Platform Evolution’ project heralds a new chapter in our event management capabilities. We transitioned from a SharePoint application to a modern event platform that excels in flexibility and scalability, essential for the evolving demands of event hosting.
Technical Advancements: A containerized application was developed to handle all back-office tasks, ensuring a seamless and secure operation. This application is the cornerstone of our enhanced event management system.
Innovative Integrations: A pivotal feature of this project is the integration of automated onsite signage and sophisticated event/room access control systems. These technologies work in tandem to provide a personalized and efficient experience for attendees, whether they are participating in person or remotely.
Project Significance: ‘Event Platform Evolution’ is a testament to our commitment to technological innovation and superior user experience. It sets a new industry benchmark for hosting events that are not only secure and scalable but also highly engaging and interactive. Show less

Moving from classic endpoint management towards a modern solution is important to keep up with the latest security practices. It will allow the IT organization to have a more flexible solution and lower its carbon footprint.

In a world where hybrid events and meetings are the new norms, it's important to have a high-quality environment where all kinds of events can be hosted in different formats. Therefore we selected for multiple rooms an NDI-based system with a state-of-the-art video & audio mixer, a new high-quality camera, and lighting equipment. Everything is connected on the corporate network to have full flexibility.

Communication towards employees is key in a growing company as imec. With offices all over the world, it's a challenge to roll out a new platform with associated hardware in all continents and provide support. For imec's cleanroom a key feature is Power Bi visualization for real-time dashboards which is not (yet) very common in the digital signage area.
For this scope, an RFP was sent to multiple integrators. Together with the integrator, we managed to transition in a small timeframe to… Show more

Communication towards employees is key in a growing company as imec. With offices all over the world, it's a challenge to roll out a new platform with associated hardware in all continents and provide support. For imec's cleanroom a key feature is Power Bi visualization for real-time dashboards which is not (yet) very common in the digital signage area.
For this scope, an RFP was sent to multiple integrators. Together with the integrator, we managed to transition in a small timeframe to replace all screens in imec offices all over the world together with a new platform with a managed service contract. As ICT Architect it's important to make the right decisions, integrate the solution properly, and have the solution in place as agreed. Show less

Headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, imec is a strategic research center with a global reputation for excellence in the development of cutting-edge digital and nanotech solutions. But with 4,000 employees in locations around the world, imec communication leaders were looking for a digital workplace solution – and the right partner – to enable and enrich collaborations between their skilled experts and partners. During this program, I played a key role in the core team to facilitate the connection… Show more

Headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, imec is a strategic research center with a global reputation for excellence in the development of cutting-edge digital and nanotech solutions. But with 4,000 employees in locations around the world, imec communication leaders were looking for a digital workplace solution – and the right partner – to enable and enrich collaborations between their skilled experts and partners. During this program, I played a key role in the core team to facilitate the connection between the imec organization and the technical team of Delaware. Show less

Technical setup & corporate rollout

Het P@rtibook-project is een samenwerking tussen UNICEF België, Vormen vzw en AP Hogeschool Antwerpen, met de steun van de Vlaamse Overheid.

P@rtibook is een innovatief project waarmee we Kinderrechten participatief en digitaal in de Vlaamse klaspraktijk brengen. Samen met leerlingen (11-12jaar) uit een 30-tal verschillende scholen, verspreid over heel Vlaanderen gaan we op zoek naar interactieve en participatieve methodieken om kinderen bewust te maken van hun eigen rechten en de… Show more

Het P@rtibook-project is een samenwerking tussen UNICEF België, Vormen vzw en AP Hogeschool Antwerpen, met de steun van de Vlaamse Overheid.

P@rtibook is een innovatief project waarmee we Kinderrechten participatief en digitaal in de Vlaamse klaspraktijk brengen. Samen met leerlingen (11-12jaar) uit een 30-tal verschillende scholen, verspreid over heel Vlaanderen gaan we op zoek naar interactieve en participatieve methodieken om kinderen bewust te maken van hun eigen rechten en de rechten van kinderen wereldwijd. Daarbij trachten we waar interessant en zinvol gebruik te maken van digitale media: tablets, digitaal bord, QR-codes, applicaties,..

Deze participatieve processen zullen resulteren in een interactieve leeromgeving (werktitel P@rtibook) ontwikkeld in samenwerking met de afdeling Wetenschap en Techniek van AP Hogeschool Antwerpen en Uitgeverij Die Keure, toonaangevend in e-learning.

De interactieve leeromgeving ‘Partibook’ is gericht op kinderen van het 5de en 6de leerjaar lager onderwijs (11-12 jarigen) en zal het thema kinderrechten op een participatieve, digitale en laagdrempelige manier introduceren bij leerkrachten en leerlingen. De verschillende activiteiten zullen worden aangeboden via 6 thema’s gelinkt aan de eindtermen lager onderwijs: Wereldoriëntatie, Nederlands, Filosoferen, ICT, Muzische Vorming, Kinderrechten als rode draad.

P@rtibook zal vanaf 2016 gratis beschikbaar zijn voor alle Vlaamse scholen Show less

The Arduino Interaktiv workshop was organized in June 2014 at Fachhochschule St. Pölten (St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences) in Austria. http://www.animationsummer.at/arduino-interaktiv/

During the workshop, the participants developed an Arduino shield, Arduino software and created experimental photographs and animations with their new hardware. This library was written to share the results of the workshop with the world.

Twice a year, imec’s partners from all over the world join this hybrid event. With over 500 presentations, this secure event demands stable and scalable event management. Together with a team, we build a digital agenda, personalized login, presentation files, and optional stream or video on demand.

Within an R&D company, a large number of projects are active. Collaboration with external partners and customers requires a stable and intuitive collaboration environment. The project team has all the required tools to report out to management. A power bi report is available for management meetings where all statuses are present and ready to present.