IT security and data protection

IT security and cybersecurity are becoming increasingly important with the digital transformation - socially, economically and politically. This development is clearly reflected in the interest in it-sa.

"Virtually all well-known vendors from the IT security industry as well as large international corporations with their cyber security division have registered"

Frank Venjakob, Executive Director it-sa, is delighted.

The focus is on concrete user scenarios - from Industry 4.0 to Fintech, critical infrastructures, public administration and healthcare. Interested parties will therefore receive even more industry-specific offerings and formats in the supporting program this year.

With over 300 papers, the program of presentations at the open forums represents a cross-section of current IT security issues. Highlights include expert discussions and presentations on topics such as IT security in hospitals and the financial sector, standardization for blockchain, and security issues in smart metering.

The growing relevance of secure IT infrastructures is also shown by the development of it-sa, the world's largest exhibitor trade fair on the subject. The topic of cybersecurity is not only of concern to the business community, but also to government agencies.

Last year, the German government decided to establish an agency for innovation in cybersecurity. With the Leipzig/Halle region, the future location of the agency is now known.

Bitkom President Achim Berg explains:

"The Agency for Innovation in Cybersecurity must and can make important contributions not only to enhancing cybersecurity, but equally to gaining digital sovereignty in Germany.

We welcome the fact that the German government has now made a decision on the location. The task now is to pick up more speed and quickly put the plans into action.

A limited liability company (GmbH) is a suitable legal form. This gives the agency faster and leaner processes, allows it to act more freely, and enables it to make more attractive offers to the IT security specialists it is courting.

It is crucial that the new cyber agency, as announced, also promotes high-risk projects and does not get lost in the minutiae of public authorities. The road from research to practice is long enough. The sooner the cyber agency starts its work, the better for Germany's cybersecurity."

Onliners in Germany are concerned about the security situation on the Internet. Nine out of ten Internet users (89 percent) see a growing threat from cybercrime. This is the result of a representative survey of more than 1,000 Internet users in Germany commissioned by the digital association Bitkom.

"Many users now have a greater awareness of dangers on the Internet"

says Susanne Dehmel, member of the Bitkom management board.

"Police are recording more cybercrimes every year. Cyber criminals are getting trickier and at the same time the number of networked devices is constantly increasing."