• Topics
  • Publications
  • Dialogue
    • Future Council of the Federal Chancellor
    • Policy advice at European level
    • International cooperation
    • Parliamentary events
    • Public dialogue events
    • Initiatives and partners
    • acatech HORIZONS
    • #FutureWorkDebatte
  • Transfer
  • Events
  • Media
    • News
    • Media Library
    • Ask acatech
    • Subscriptions
  • About us
    • What we do
      • Mission
      • Guidelines for Advising Policymakers and the Public
      • Quality management
      • Transparency
      • History
    • Organisation
      • Executive Board
      • Management Board
      • Members
      • Topic networks
      • Senate
    • acatech Office
      • Jobs (German)
      • Locations
    • Friends Association
  • DE
  • Topics
  • Publications
  • Dialogue
    • Future Council of the Federal Chancellor
    • Policy advice at European level
    • International cooperation
    • Parliamentary events
    • Public dialogue events
    • Initiatives and partners
    • acatech HORIZONS
    • #FutureWorkDebatte
  • Transfer
  • Events
  • Media
    • News
    • Media Library
    • Ask acatech
    • Subscriptions
  • About us
    • What we do
      • Mission
      • Guidelines for Advising Policymakers and the Public
      • Quality management
      • Transparency
      • History
    • Organisation
      • Executive Board
      • Management Board
      • Members
      • Topic networks
      • Senate
    • acatech Office
      • Jobs (German)
      • Locations
    • Friends Association
  • DE

Cybersecurity – Current Situation and Future Challenges

© shutterstock/Khakimullin Aleksandr

Background

Both digitization and digital technologies are developing rapidly, and data is constantly being collected, exchanged and increasingly analyzed using artificial intelligence. At the same time, attacks in virtual space are increasing significantly – both quantitatively and qualitatively. Against this background, security in the digital space is becoming increasingly important. Data is a valuable asset that must be sustainably protected – this applies to individuals as well as to companies and states. This raises numerous questions, for example about the influence of new technologies (e.g., quantum computing), but also sustainability aspects, such as the resilience of legacy systems that have already been rolled out or the long-term availability of data. But legal aspects also play an important role here, for example, how sustainable compliance rules can be implemented. In addition, Germany’s dependence on laws in third countries – digital sovereignty – must be discussed in this context.

Goals

The central challenge is to strategically position Germany in such a way that it remains digitally sovereign. For this to succeed, cybersecurity must be anchored as a national priority and recommendations for areas of activity derived from it. European values such as openness, transparency, traceability and protection of privacy should be brought into focus. Clear standards, rules and interoparobility are needed. In addition, test methods are needed for the continuous evaluation of systems. Risks must become easier to quantify so that adequate, risk-based security solutions can be found. Since there can be no such thing as one hundred percent security, those responsible in politics, business and society must be enabled to make a quantifiable and comprehensible assessment of the prevailing and required security state. They must be able to make a risk-based assessment of what the right level of security is and what risks are associated with different courses of action. In addition, it is important to qualify those responsible in such a way that they can sufficiently weigh up risks and necessary countermeasures. First and foremost, this involves a rethinking in politics, which should give this topic the highest priority. Similarly, companies must also understand and sustainably pursue cybersecurity as a strategic corporate goal (and not just selectively meet the minimum required by law). In addition, awareness must be raised in all parts of society. This is a long-term goal that also entails a cultural change in the way digital media and opportunities are handled and requires significant changes in education and professional training. Security solutions that are as safe and easy to use as possible can help increase acceptance.

The project will investigate which measures and, if applicable key technologies are needed to achieve sustainable security for critical infrastructures, companies, public institutions and citizens, and how these can systematically be developed further. The aim is to identify ways in which a free market for innovations can be stimulated.

 

Project Group

  • Carlos Arglebe, Siemens Healthineers
  • Johannes Buchmann, TU Darmstadt
  • Claudia Eckert, Fraunhofer AISEC
  • Alexander von Gernler, genua GmbH
  • Jörn Müller-Quade, KIT
  • Raphael Otto, Infineon
  • Reinhard Ploss, acatech
  • Michael Waidner, TU Darmstadt, Fraunhofer SIT

 

 

Tags

Cyber Security | Security

  • Project duration

    12/2021 — 09/2022

  • Coordination

    Simon Litsche
    acatech – Deutsche Akademie der Technikwissenschaften
    Wissenschaftlicher Referent
    Forschungsbeirat Industrie 4.0

  • Topic

    Security

    Digital transformation

News

Munich, 4 April 2023

acatech am Dienstag: cybersecurity – challenges for critical infrastructure

An artistic interpretation of the subject of cybersecurity.

Munich, 9 December 2022

Greater cybersecurity visibility is required

Munich, 30 November 2022

Germany needs an ambitious cybersecurity strategy

All News

Publications

Cover of the publication Cybersecurity. Current Situation and Future Challenges

Cybersecurity. Current Situation and Future Challenges

Published: 29 November 2022

All Publications
Newsletter
Our newsletters (in German) keep you up to date with the academy’s current topics, projects and events.
Subscribe

  • Social Media



  • Academy

    • Topics
    • Publications
    • Projects
    • International Cooperation
    • Events
    • Media
    • About us
    • Locations
    • Jobs (German)
  • Legal notices

    • Imprint
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact

    acatech – National Academy
    of Science and Engineering

    Munich Office
    Karolinenplatz 4
    80333 Munich
    Germany

    +49 (0)89/52 03 09-0
    info@acatech.de

© 2025 acatech - National Academy of Science and Engineering