# Niels Van Dorpe

> Niels Van Dorpe is a Brussels-based Security Analyst at Orange Cyberdefense specializing in threat detection, security monitoring and blue/purple team operations. GDAT (96%), BTL1 Gold, SC-200 certified.

Niels Van Dorpe is a Security Analyst at Orange Cyberdefense in Brussels, Belgium. Focus: blue team operations (threat detection, security monitoring, threat investigation, log analysis) with a growing focus on purple teaming and adversary emulation.

## Profile

- Website: https://nielsvandorpe.com/
- Role: Security Analyst at Orange Cyberdefense (2023 — Present)
- Location: Brussels, Belgium
- Email: contact@nielsvandorpe.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nielsvandorpe
- Verified credentials (Credly): https://www.credly.com/users/niels-van-dorpe

## Experience

### Security Analyst, Orange Cyberdefense (2023 — Present)
- Monitoring and analyzing security events across enterprise environments using SIEM and EDR platforms
- Investigating security alerts, performing triage and escalation of potential threats
- Working with Microsoft Defender XDR, Microsoft Sentinel, Cortex XDR, Splunk, Vectra AI, and Cybereason
- Analyzing threat patterns and improving alert fidelity
- Collaborating with teams to strengthen organizational security posture

## Certifications

- GIAC Defending Advanced Threats (GDAT), SANS / GIAC, August 2025 — Top Score (96%) — verify: https://www.credly.com/badges/726bee67-d858-454c-90bc-7cd8eacad2e9
- Blue Team Level 1 (BTL1), Security Blue Team, January 2025 — Gold Medal • 90%+ (Gold) — verify: https://www.credly.com/badges/dc9321cc-5b43-4027-8a57-38531f7d9969
- Security Operations Analyst Associate (SC-200), Microsoft, July 2024
- Security+ CE (SY0-601), CompTIA, December 2023 — verify: https://www.credly.com/badges/d3f62095-505f-4b40-8ea9-99b78c0016b0
- Core Certified Power User (Splunk), Splunk, October 2023 — verify: https://www.credly.com/badges/52313337-b73d-4d44-99dd-90046afcb978
- Core Certified User (Splunk), Splunk, October 2023 — verify: https://www.credly.com/badges/8b3e7962-7951-40bd-97d2-07f06213bea8

## Achievements

- Huntress CTF 2026: 46th out of 1,602 participants (Top 2.9%)
- Huntress CTF, previous edition: 157th out of 6,869 teams (Top 2.3%)
- Member of the invitation-only GIAC Advisory Board — verify: https://www.credly.com/badges/7e2e6765-36b6-4d91-9355-d52175c82485

## Tools & technologies

- EDR / XDR: Microsoft Defender XDR, Cortex XDR, Cybereason
- SIEM / Analytics: Microsoft Sentinel, Splunk
- Network Detection: Vectra AI
- Training Platforms: Hack The Box, CTF Competitions

## Expertise

Threat detection, Security monitoring, Threat investigation, Incident triage, Log analysis, Security Operations Center (SOC), SIEM, EDR / XDR, Purple teaming, Adversary emulation, Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Defender XDR, Splunk, Cortex XDR, Vectra AI, Capture the Flag (CTF)

## Education

- System & Network Administration, HOGENT (Ghent, Belgium), 2020 — 2023

## Languages

- Dutch: Native
- English: Full Professional
- French: Professional Working
- German: Limited Working

## Writeups

- [Hello, world](https://nielsvandorpe.com/writeups/hello-world/): The first post on nielsvandorpe.com: what this writeups section is for and what to expect here — CTF solutions, detection engineering and notes from the SOC.

## FAQ

### Who is Niels Van Dorpe?
Niels Van Dorpe is a Security Analyst at Orange Cyberdefense, based in Brussels, Belgium. He detects and investigates security threats across enterprise environments, with a focus on blue team operations and a growing focus on purple teaming.

### What does Niels Van Dorpe specialize in?
Threat detection, security monitoring, threat investigation and log analysis, using SIEM, EDR/XDR and network detection platforms such as Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Defender XDR, Splunk, Cortex XDR, Vectra AI and Cybereason.

### Which cybersecurity certifications does Niels Van Dorpe hold?
GIAC Defending Advanced Threats (GDAT, 96% score), Blue Team Level 1 (BTL1, Gold Medal), Microsoft SC-200 Security Operations Analyst Associate, CompTIA Security+, and Splunk Core Certified Power User and Core Certified User. He is also a member of the invitation-only GIAC Advisory Board.

### What are his notable achievements?
He placed 46th out of 1,602 participants (top 2.9%) in the Huntress CTF 2026, after finishing 157th out of 6,869 teams (top 2.3%) in a previous edition, and was invited to the GIAC Advisory Board for exemplary performance on GIAC exams.

### How can I contact Niels Van Dorpe?
By email at contact@nielsvandorpe.com or on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/nielsvandorpe.