Transfer Point IT Security in Medium-sized Businesses 

Jan. 01, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2023

As part of the “Transfer Point” project of the “IT Security for the Economy” initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi), the business units Collaborative Safety and Security (ESPRI) and Digital Public Services (DPS) are developing solutions to support small and medium businesses with practical and up-to-date information on protection against cyber attacks. This enables companies to detect potential threats without much effort. They also receive concrete recommendations for action on IT security measures in their businesses.

While digital technologies offer small and medium-sized companies important opportunities for further development and growth, their information security lags behind the opportunities of digital transformation. Threats are not recognized or are incorrectly assessed, and there is often a lack of financial resources and skills to introduce and implement an IT security management system.

To support these companies in secure digitization, the “transfer point” will compile existing offers, such as website reviews and action guides, for small and medium-sized enterprises according to their specific situation, e.g., size, industry and IT architecture, starting in summer 2020. For additional training materials, the measures are prepared and made available to employees in the companies. In order to provide easy and targeted access to the offers, advice is provided both digitally - via a website and an app - and on site. To this end, 80 showcases will be set up at chambers and other regional contact points. Mobile teams of advisors will also be available nationwide.

Fraunhofer FOKUS is working on the “IT Security for the Economy” transfer point together with Deutschland sicher im Netz e.V. (consortium leader), the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce, and Mannheim University of Applied Sciences.