This competence centre serves as an interdisciplinary platform connecting the topics of cyber democracy, cyber development and cyber security. Various specialist fields such as economics, sociology, psychology, technology and innovation are considered in order to understand their interactions. The aim is to develop new approaches that support businesses and consumers in remaining resilient in the digital era. This is intended particularly to help address the challenges posed by the shortage of IT and cyber specialists as well as executives, and to find solutions for sustainable cyber security.
The challenges facing the world today are far greater than the impact of the invention of telephony. Digitalisation will fundamentally transform society, the economy and politics. Forecasts are difficult; too many uncertainties can have far-reaching consequences.
Yet today the course is being set. Countless practitioners, experts, businesses, academics and researchers are racking their brains over who should apply which levers, when and where, to steer development into orderly channels - for the benefit of future humanity and the economy.
Digitally caused accidents occur more frequently than we think.
When one adds together technical negligence and targeted cyber attacks on businesses or ministries, IT failures in Germany alone caused damage of 206 billion euros in 2022. Systems came to a standstill, with all the economic consequences that entails. Overtime for administrators had to be paid. Across Europe, the total damage amounted to two trillion euros.[1]
Many speak about cyber security, but only few act accordingly. That is the general perception at present. There is no shortage of knowledge or experts who know exactly what needs to be done. Yet when it comes to implementing the necessary measures and providing the required resources, they often encounter resistance - whether through entrenched habits or other constraints. As a result, security vulnerabilities remain open that criminal hackers can exploit to their advantage.
Successful security policy and the design of security strategies for the public and private sector - in national, European and global contexts -, particularly when developing forward-looking concepts for resilience and the protection of critical infrastructure, requires open and unbiased exchange of ideas among all actors in society, politics, business, public administration, as well as academia and research.
Over recent decades, technical progress in the field of computer technology has undergone revolutionary development. Efficiency and productivity have increased in numerous sectors, and new business models and social interactions have emerged that were previously unthinkable.
Innovative business models (Smart Business Models) based on digital technologies are steadily conquering all areas of private enterprise and public administration. At the same time, individual cyber risks and supply chain risks are increasing. In combination, these can assume or develop into crisis situations.
Enhancing digital resilience and ensuring cyber security in the digital world overall are of great importance for the security of a state. This is expressed, for example, in the "Austrian Cyber Security Strategy" (ÖSCS) from 2021, which sets out the vision of creating a secure cyberspace in the long term as a contribution to increasing the resilience of Austria and the European Union through a whole-of-government approach.
New EU directives and regulations, such as the new EU directive (NIS2 Directive), extend their scope to include more sectors and businesses. They also introduce detailed measures for cyber security risk management, stricter supervisory and enforcement requirements, and harmonised sanctions.
Intelligent solutions for businesses, private households and municipalities generate higher customer satisfaction and provide businesses with decisive competitive advantages. Finding solutions for the secure application of information and communication technologies and the associated risk and crisis management are an existential component of any information and communication infrastructure of an organisation, taking into account internal and external actors (stakeholders).
The Centre for Risk and Crisis Management began as early as 2016/2017 in an initial working group to consider what solutions would be needed to stabilise or eliminate, for example, the anticipated shortage of skilled workers and the associated cost increases in the IT/cyber sector for private households and businesses - particularly for SMEs - in terms of cyber security and resilience, as well as the resulting expected market disruptions.
Therefore, an urgent response to these challenges is required.
To address these challenges effectively and efficiently, this working group developed the idea - after CORONA - from 2022 to 2023 for the conception and planning, and in 2024 for the initiation of cooperative solutions, such as:
- the establishment of an International Cyber Relief Organisation in Switzerland, together with the associated independent national Cyber Relief Organisations in Austria, Germany and Switzerland for private individuals, SMEs and municipalities, was planned and implemented in 2024 (https://cyber-hw.org).
The purpose of the individual national "Cyber-Hilfswerke - Digital Angels" is to: establish and ensure on-site emergency assistance as well as Cyber Incident Management and Response (CIR) for private individuals and SMEs, and awareness training for children aged 3-6 within the framework of the Cyber Project: "CYBER-KIDS-Junior Digital Angel". Further information available via link below.
- the establishment of a first Cooperative for Digitalisation, Challenge and Innovation Management (GDCIM) for SMEs, liberal professions and private households. (https://gdcim.coop)
The cooperative is a purchasing, sales and service community for SMEs and realises its purpose through the cooperative association of producers, traders, consultants (technical, legal, business management) and other service providers, primarily from the digitalisation, supply chain, ICT, cyber, risk, crisis and security management sectors. Further information available via link below.
The responsibilities of the Centre of Competence include:
- Positioning the Centre of Competence as a visible, accessible, reliable and credible orchestrator of an ethical and digital future and developing new value chains.
- Analysis and conception of new strategies and options for cooperative organisational solutions to achieve societal, governmental and corporate CYBER RESILIENCE
- Acting as a strategic and innovative competence cell for the support and further development of ZRK initiatives and foundations: Cyber Relief Organisations in Austria, Switzerland and Germany, as well as the Cooperative for Digitalisation, Challenge and Innovation Management in Switzerland and beyond
- Identifying and continuously evaluating (new) societal, technological and economic developments for continuous societal, governmental and corporate CYBER RESILIENCE
- Continuous concept and methodology development for the implementation of technological, sociological, psychological and economic strategies for continuous societal, governmental and corporate CYBER RESILIENCE
- Research and development in the subject area and knowledge transfer
- Development and dissemination of best practices on a scientific basis through research, publication and organising/participating in congresses, symposia and seminars
- Cultivating an international community from all scientific and economic disciplines to continuously advance the development and impact of this Centre of Competence.
[1] Quote: Prof. Dr. Jochen SCHILLER, ZEIT ONLINE, 12 August 2024, 19:49: Jochen Schiller: "Fragen werden meist erst gestellt, wenn es irgendwo kracht" | ZEIT ONLINE
