📋 Tender Overview
Danger recognized, but not averted: Despite increasing threats from cyberattacks, only a few companies have an emergency plan - even though an attack can have existential consequences. The Ministry of the Interior and the affiliated cybersecurity agency therefore developed a cybersecurity check in autumn 2024 and rolled it out with the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHKs) in the state. Since then, more than 330 companies have been checked for their cybersecurity by the Baden-Württemberg Chambers of Industry and Commerce - an initial assessment.
The numbers are alarming: In 2024 alone, 26 percent more malware variants were discovered than in the previous year - that was a total of almost 115 million unauthorized actions in digital systems. The amount of damage is also constantly breaking new records, as evidenced by the current report on the state of IT security in Germany by the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) as well as the current publication by the industry association Bitkom eV. According to this, the German economy again suffered record losses from digital and analogue attacks in 2024 amounting to 267 billion euros, of which 179 billion euros alone came from cybercrime.
"Many companies underestimate the danger of cyber attacks. It is mainly small and medium-sized companies that are affected. They are increasingly being spied on or blackmailed through attacks on computer networks, software and hardware," says Claus Paal , President of the IHK Region Stuttgart , which was already involved in the pilot phase of the cyber security check and has since carried out more than 100 cyber security checks. "Our security checks are therefore a good, low-threshold consulting service that helps to identify and close security gaps in the company."
Tailor-made consulting services for the management of SMEs
The Ministry of the Interior, the State Criminal Police Office and the Cyber ??Security Agency have developed the “Cyber ??Security Check for SMEs” together with partners from research ( Aalen University ) and industry ( Ostwürttemberg Chamber of Industry and Commerce ) – and have thus launched a tailor-made consulting service for the management of SMEs. Under the control of Aalen University and with great support from Ostwürttemberg Chamber of Industry and Commerce, which, among other things, is implementing a corresponding training format for consultants, the consulting service has been rolled out and tested in recent months. This is much more accessible than the more comprehensive consulting service provided by the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), for example – and is therefore an interesting introduction to the topic of cyber security, especially for small and medium-sized companies.
One person who has already tried it out is Claudia Hofmann - even though the managing director of rhv-Technik GmbH & Co. KG in Waiblingen was initially rather skeptical. "I asked myself what the point of such a safety check would be," Hofmann admits, but she revised her opinion after the hour-long consultation. "The check was definitely worth it because it opened our eyes to where there are indeed safety-related weak points in the company. And we were given the impetus and the necessary know-how to change that quickly."
Reaction immediately after the attack is crucial
Roman Leonov, IT expert at the Stuttgart Region Chamber of Industry and Commerce, is one of the employees who carries out the checks in the companies. "In addition to the lack of emergency plans, we noticed that often only those responsible inform themselves. However, the knowledge and the necessary awareness are not passed on to the employees. The reaction in the first few hours after an attack can be crucial for the extent of the attack," explains Leonov. In any case, the checks have shown that almost every company can get important tips on improving IT security - regardless of its current IT security situation. "Especially in times of increasing cyber attacks, companies need practical and easy-to-implement solutions. With the cyber security check, we are laying the foundation for more security in the digital economy," emphasizes Claus Paal.
"We need a rethink here. Digital change begins in people's minds. Cyber ??security must become a top priority! But that is not enough. The issue of cyber security must be anchored in the minds of all employees," emphasises Interior Minister Thomas Strobl.
