One of the BSI's key tasks involves providing recommendations to private users, companies, and the Federal Administration on the secure use of IT systems, including in the form of Technical Guidelines (TR). Its objective in publishing Technical Guidelines is to promote the widespread establishment of appropriate IT security standards.

In the BSI TR-02102 series of Technical Guidelines, the BSI presents a security evaluation of selected cryptographic procedures and recommendations on the use of the cryptographic protocols TLS (Transport Layer Security), IPsec (Internet Protocol Security), IKE (Internet Key Exchange), and SSH (Secure Shell). These are meant to provide long-term orientation in the selection of methods appropriate for the task at hand.

Meanwhile, Technical Guideline BSI TR-03116 offers information on the cryptographic specifications that apply to projects of the German Federal Government.

Finally, the BSI also helps create and maintain international specifications and standards in the field of cryptography. Among other entities, it contributes to the DIN standards committee NA 043-01-27 AA and to the Senior Officials Group Information Systems Security (SOG-IS).