When cyber attacks don't just affect systems - but responsibility, value creation & the future.
We already know your excuse(s)
- We are too small to be interesting. - Nobody knows our niche. - Why spend money now, nothing has happened yet? -
The German Mittelstand
German SMEs are the backbone of the economy, drivers of innovation and technology leaders. But it is precisely this strength that makes them vulnerable: Know-how, patents and production secrets are now more coveted than ever - by cyber criminals, competitors and state actors.
And reality shows: IT departments are not the only ones with responsibility - security is a matter for the boss.
The NIS2 directive also increases the personal liability of management and financial officers. Delegation of responsibility is possible - but liability remains.
"You get what you pay for" - security failures directly affect management. Ransomware is not the only risk. What is often more dangerous is what nobody notices.
40
+
Network nodes
worldwide
4500
+
Customer locations
connected
350
+
Network partners
local
20
+
years
Experience
1400
+
Presence in
75+ countries and numerous cities
Why SMEs in particular are moving into focus
Intellectual property is a key strategic factor for the strength of SMEs - especially for the hidden champions in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, medical technology, sensor technology, software or optics. many SMEs are niche leaders, often with very specific technologies. Without patents, utility models or protected processes, they would quickly be copied in low-wage countries. Intellectual property (IP) creates barriers to entry and enables price premiums. Unlike large corporations, hidden champions work with highly specialized innovations - but very often without dedicated security teams. For attackers, this is a combination of:
Advantage for attackers
Risk for companies
Valuable data, research, procedures
ESPIONAGE instead of blackmail
Fewer security personnel & monitoring
Attacks go unnoticed
Networked production (OT/IT)
Silent compromising → Know-how outflow
High dependency on operational capability
Standstill = millions lost
Supply chain interfaces
a weak partner is enough
Securing the SME sector
We help companies to implement security efficiently & realistically - technically, organizationally & regulatory.
Our OOPS reports show: 30%+ of the analyzed security incidents did not pursue a ransom goal - but data outflow. Unnoticed, inconspicuous, highly professional.
Attack
Target
Remote maintenance is hijacked
Access to process parameters
CAD/design data exfiltrated
Technology advantage is copied
ICS controller compromised
Production know-how is exported
Attacks via supply chain
Entry via weaker partner
The worst attack is not the one that paralyzes systems but the one that remains undetected.
The biggest problem is not technology - but a lack of clarity & accountability.
Many SMEs have security tools, but no security strategy. Firewall, antivirus & backup are important - but without monitoring, playbooks & incident response, protection remains superficial.
What is often missing:
🔻 24/7 monitoring & alerting 🔻 Clear responsibilities & process chains 🔻 Forensics, incident response & emergency plans NIS2-compliant documentation & reporting deadlines 🔻 Management training (not just IT staff)
Security is not a product - it's a process.
The intergalactic space amoeba
Many medium-sized companies tend to spend considerable sums of money on advice as to why they should not invest in IT security. It's a bit like paying an astrophysicist to confirm that black holes are just a rumor.
The really amusing - or tragic, depending on your temperament - thing is that even if a hacker ever saw this euphonious reasoning, they would probably just nod politely before getting back to the task at hand, which is to penetrate without a care in the world.
After all, the average attacker cares about whether a company has a well-justified non-investment in security about as much as an intergalactic space amoeba cares whether you've prepared a PowerPoint about its existence. In other words: not at all.
Spotlight: IT security
Your guide to current and future cyber threats
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