Brief Profile of the BSI
Germany * Digital * Secure * BSI
As the national cyber security authority, the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) is responsible for digital information security for the government, businesses and society through prevention, detection and reaction. The BSI is the federal cyber security agency and the chief architect of secure digitalisation in Germany. Since it was founded in 1991, the BSI has developed into a cross-departmental competence centre for information security issues, with technical expertise that is recognised nationally and internationally.
Digitisation is crucial for Germany's future success. And a prerequisite for successful digitisation is information security: information security and digitisation are inseparable. The BSI deals with digitisation applications where risks could occur and examines how they can be made calculable and controllable. Its distinctive internal and external networking allows the BSI to bundle know-how in the areas of prevention, detection and response, to analyse information security topics technically and to produce targeted support for different target groups in government, business and society. The integrated value chain of the BSI ranges from defence and analysis of cyber attacks through consulting and certification, and right to the development of security recommendations, best practices and standards.
With the increasing spread of new technologies like artificial intelligence, 5G or smart home/smart factory, the question of trustworthiness is never far away. Trust is created, among other things, through security, which is why the BSI addresses this issue holistically. To increase the information security of new technologies, part of the BSI remit is designing practice-oriented security requirements, standards and recommendations for action. As the central certification and standardisation body in Germany, the BSI assumes responsibility in this area too. The BSI is also contributing significantly to the success of the major digitisation projects of our time, such as by developing security criteria for smart electricity meters as part of the energy revolution. The BSI is supporting the securing of a digitised transport infrastructure that allows autonomous driving. The BSI has helped to design and certify the essential security anchors of the electronic health card and has established internationally recognised requirements for securing cloud infrastructures. In doing so, the BSI uses its know-how as a national competence centre in the field of cryptography. The BSI also focuses on the information security of new, disruptive technologies, like artificial intelligence or 5G infrastructures.
One core task for the BSI is the defence against cyber attacks on government networks and the federal administration Organisations in the Federal Government, state agencies and other administrative entities also benefit from the updated IT-Grundschutz, through minimum standards and services related to IT security consulting, certification and accreditation as well as support in the event of IT security incidents from the CERT-Bund, mobile incident response teams (MIRT) or from the National Cyber Response Centre.
Operators of critical infrastructures (KRITIS) benefit from the collaboration with the BSI in the context of the IT Security Act that came into force in 2015 as well as from the cooperation in UP KRITIS, a public-private partnership between KRITIS operators, associations and regulatory authorities aimed at increasing IT security in Germany.
Support for the economy and society / digital consumer protection
With the Alliance for Cyber Security established in 2021, the BSI strengthens the resilience of Germany as a business location against cyber attacks. SMEs in particular benefit from the exchange of expertise and practice-oriented IT security recommendations. The Alliance for Cyber Security is a successful model that currently encompasses around 5,000 organisations.
Within the framework of digital consumer protection, the BSI pursues a holistic approach: manufacturers of digital products are encouraged to bring them to market with appropriate security features. At the same time, the BSI raises the risk awareness of consumers, giving them the confidence they need to take action to avert dangers on their own. In this regard they benefit from practical information and recommendations that are aimed at the lay person, which the BSI provides on its website or through its hotline at 0800-2741000. In implementing the Federal Government's Cyber Security Strategy, the BSI is also developing an IT Security Mark to make it easier for consumers to assess the cyber security of IT products in future.
In recent years, the BSI has been regularly voted as one of the top employers in the field of information technology in Germany by students and graduates. As an employer, the BSI offers employees the opportunity to realise their professional potential while playing a crucial role in society at the same time. The attractive areas of work within the BSI and active personnel marketing such as the campaign 'What we want? Your digital side', mean the BSI is successful in effectively filling jobs that are allocated and advertised quickly.
Figures, data, facts
Formation of the BSI: 1 January 1991
Registered office: Godesberger Allee 87, 53175 Bonn, Germany
Headcount: 1.784,7 (this year)
Budget: 237.9 million Euro (2024)
President: Claudia Plattner (since 2023)
Vice President: Dr Gerhard Schabhüser (since 2017)
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