The new Directorate-General TK -- 'Technical Centres of Excellence' has been set up within the BSI to mount a response to the challenges posed by the disruptive forces of digitalisation in the context of information security. Acting as an 'early warning system' for upcoming technical change, this Division also develops appropriate solution strategies with a focus on ensuring information security can be upheld in a digitalised world.

As a centre of excellence, the Directorate-General offers a portfolio of technical solutions that address a range of strategic topics, while driving practical knowledge transfer as a leading source of expertise both inside and outside the BSI. As the central repository of knowledge at the BSI, the Directorate-General TK takes on a fundamental role in helping to shape information security as part of the digital transformation. Within its specialist fields, the Directorate is an innovative pioneer of systematic analysis and development, and addresses strategic topics with the aim of shaping these at a national and international level. The Division is primarily responsible for technology and research strategy at the BSI.

Sections in the Directorate-General TK (TK)

The Directorate-General has two sections. These are section TK 1, 'IT Systems', and section TK 2, 'IT Infrastructure', which together maintain a total of nine separate teams who provide an integrated perspective on the security of IT systems and IT infrastructure components as well as cloud-based services. The various divisions in the Directorate-General also possess a wide range of specific and in-depth expertise, covering areas such as the core components utilised in modern hardware platforms, operating systems, the analysis of hardware and software, emission security, industrial control and automation systems, cloud computing and software-defined systems. A key point of focus for the Directorate-General's work is considering information security in relation to new, disruptive technologies, such as artificial intelligence and 5G infrastructure, which will have a huge impact on national economies as part of the upcoming digital transition.