Commenting on the Log4J security vulnerability, Prof. Norbert Pohlmann, Board Member for IT Security at eco – Association of the Internet Industry, has the following to say:
“With the Log4J vulnerability, the threat to our society and economy from cyber attacks has hit a frightening new level – because IT platforms and infrastructures are involved here, meaning that a huge spectrum of users are affected. The German federal government, together with the stakeholders involved, must now do everything they can to quickly shut down the existing IT vulnerabilities – secure IT infrastructures and services form the basis for trust and thus for the success of digital transformation. We must by no means now leave the field open to the hackers.
“A government calling for a digital awakening must ensure that strong IT security is at the top of the agenda, and that it forms the basis for all further digital policy steps.
“This makes IT security the central element for digitalisation. IT security and integrity of Internet and IT services must be systematically strengthened and expanded. From this perspective, it is important that policymakers pursue a joint approach for more IT security in dialogue with users and providers.
“In the coalition agreement of the German ‘traffic light coalition’ parties, what I can already see are first good approaches: This is shown by clear specifications, such as security by design/default and the increased use of encryption. These approaches now urgently need to be converted from paper into practice.”
