With the publication of the National Security Strategy, the German government is taking a first step toward promoting cybersecurity across government departments. The federal government recognizes that cyber incidents threaten both overall societal cohesion and the economic base of our country. However, where a strategy is supposed to provide guidance, the document remains vague. Companies and civil society are called upon to develop greater risk awareness and their own cyber self-help capabilities.
“The state recommends that those affected by crime in the cyber area protect themselves and thus withdraws from responsibility. For private and economic actors, this can only mean that even more protective measures will have to be implemented and financed in the future.”
said Hans-Wilhelm Dünn, President of the Cyber Security Council Germany e.V. The strategy brings together numerous overdue projects such as the creation of a holistic cyber situation picture, crisis response mechanisms of government agencies and the expansion of secure communication systems of the federal administration. The document remains vague on how to respond to cyber incidents. Although attacks are to be averted immediately, hackbacks are rejected.
“The sought-after federal authority to defend against cyber threats is inconsistent. What we need is a credible deterrent to foreign cyber warriors to protect our economy. Like the expansion of the BSI into a central office, this can only be achieved with the consent of the federal states. This makes it all the more important to include them in the development of the nationwide strategy. Defacto, there is currently no security strategy of the Federal Republic of Germany here, but only a wish list of the federal government.”
continues Hans-Wilhelm Dünn.
The Cyber Security Council Germany e.V. was founded in August 2012 by well-known personalities. The Berlin-based association is politically neutral and advises companies, public authorities and political decision-makers in the field of cyber security. The association’s members include large and medium-sized companies, operators of critical infrastructures as well as federal states and federal institutions, experts and political decision-makers with a connection to cyber security. Through its members, the association represents more than three million employees from the business community and nearly two million members from associations and clubs. V.i.S.d.P.: Hans-Wilhelm Dünn, Präsident, Cyber-Sicherheitsrat Deutschland e.V.