Banyan Software, a leading acquirer and operator of mission-critical software businesses, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Arda, a Dutch cybersecurity awareness training platform serving over 90 thousand users primarily across education, government and healthcare sectors.
Founded in 2018 by Maarten van den Heuvel and Henri Koppen, Arda was built on the belief that cybersecurity training could be genuinely engaging if it reflected the real working lives of the people taking it. The name stands for “A Redesign of Awareness.” Today, Arda is a recognized market leader in the Dutch education and government sectors, with a proprietary learning and scenario engine, as well as a continuously refreshed library of story-driven content filmed in local workplaces with Dutch- and English-speaking presenters.
Arda is trusted by hundreds of organizations, including Nyenrode Business University, De Haagse Hogeschool, Provincie Limburg, Woonstad Rotterdam, Verenso and Arts & Zorg. Demand is accelerating across Europe as regulations including NIS2 and DORA elevate cybersecurity awareness to a board-level requirement.
By turning awareness training into engaging, locally relevant content that employees actually complete, Arda helps customers meet rising regulatory expectations under NIS2 and DORA while delivering measurable behavioral change, including higher phishing reporting and faster incident response. The latter contributes to lower recovery costs and brand protection.
With the acquisition of Arda, Banyan now operates five businesses in the Benelux region. With an office in Amsterdam and a local team of experts, Banyan is committed to serve and expand the region.
About Arda. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Zoetermeer, Arda is a leading Dutch cybersecurity awareness training platform serving more than 150 organizations and 91,000 users across education, government, healthcare, and corporate sectors. Arda helps organizations build a security-aware culture and meet evolving European regulatory requirements including NIS2, DORA, NEN 7510, and BIO2. To learn more, visit www.arda.nl
About Banyan Software, Inc. Banyan Software is the best permanent home for software businesses that serve specialized industries, their employees, and their customers. With a buy-and-hold-for-life approach and a permanent capital base, Banyan acquires and grows companies worldwide, honoring founder legacies and helping portfolio companies modernize through shared AI expertise and operational discipline. Founded in 2016, Banyan operates more than 100 portfolio companies across North America, the UK, EU, and APAC.
