Centre public d'Action sociale de Waterloo

CPAS Waterloo, also known as Centre public d'Action sociale de Waterloo, is a public social action centre located in Waterloo, Belgium. Its primary mission is to deliver social welfare assistance to individuals and families residing in the municipality. The organisation administers a range of benefits, including financial aid, housing support, and integration services for newcomers. It also provides guidance and resources aimed at reducing poverty and promoting social inclusion within the community. CPAS Waterloo operates under the framework of Belgian public social assistance legislation, coordinating with local government and partner organisations.

As a municipal public institution, CPAS Waterloo is distinguished by its direct accountability to the city of Waterloo and its focus on local social needs. The organisation’s activities are guided by the principles of solidarity and accessibility that characterize Belgium’s social security system. In October 2023, CPAS Waterloo experienced a cybersecurity incident when an alert was triggered on one of its devices. The response included taking systems offline for approximately twenty‑four hours to investigate, monitor, and restore operations. The Belgian federal Cyber Emergency Response Team (Cert) confirmed that no administrative or personal data was compromised, attributing the outcome to effective firewall protections and the organisation’s prompt reaction. Following the incident, Cert issued recommendations for further improvements, and CPAS Waterloo indicated plans to conduct audits to strengthen its defenses. The episode highlighted the organisation’s capacity to manage cyber threats while maintaining its core social service mission.