Interview with Sascha Schimmler, Senior Manager Offensive Application Security DACH at NVISO Most companies have already established effective protective shields for their IT systems. In the field of operational technology (OT), however, the situation is often quite different. Realistically replicated test environments...

Email remains the backbone of digital communication. But this is precisely where its central weakness lies: billions of emails are sent every day – a significant proportion of which are fake, fraudulent or incorrectly authenticated. This is why the eco Association and the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) are committed to strengthening email security through concrete technical measures and the comprehensive implementation of established standards.

In view of the growing threat posed by ransomware, eco – Association of the Internet Industry is calling for the consistent implementation of “security by design” and a significant rethink of cyber resilience in companies. Although investigative authorities are doing valuable work in investigating cyber attacks, private...

OT devices – and their security – urgently need to step out of the shadow of traditional business IT. After all, OT is now connected, vulnerable and business-critical. A rethink is needed: eco's Security and IoT Competence Groups have taken on this task and raised awareness of the issue with a dedicated event.

The DIRECTIONS (Data Protection Certification for Educational Information Systems) research project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), has reached an important milestone: in May 2025, the first voluntary commitment to protect pupils' personal data will be published. More transparency...

Flowers, jewellery or small gifts: Mother's Day is approaching - and online retail is booming. But where the shopping mood is rising, risks are also lurking. eco Association of the Internet Industry warns: Fake shops are currently luring many buyers into their traps again - often through advertising on social networks. Too...

The rapid development of digital technologies and the increasing interconnectedness of all areas of life present companies with a multitude of complex challenges. In the face of threats such as cyber attacks, data misuse and manipulation of information systems, it is becoming increasingly important to develop new strategies...

Touch panels on machines, telecontrol stations and edge gateways for IoT data: An industrial site such as a smart factory can quickly have up to 500 individual OT devices in use – enough of a target for hackers and cybercriminals. These are seven challenges that organisations should have on their radar today. The security...

The eco Mobility Competence Group is pleased to welcome its new Advisory Board Member, Dr. Julian Weber. As Senior Consultant for In-car Data, Cybersecurity & AI at the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), he aims to expand the potential of smart mobility, protect it against risks and work with the industry to make it fit for the future – together with key stakeholders.

Following the withdrawal of US funding, the CVE project faces shutdown – a serious blow to the global cybersecurity infrastructure. Klaus Landefeld, Member of the eco Board, warns of the consequences and calls for a swift, coordinated solution.

Zero Trust has long been more than just an IT buzzword - it is becoming the new security standard in a digitally connected world. 2025 will be all about pragmatic implementation: companies of all sizes will rely on identity-centred strategies, automated protection mechanisms and integrated platforms to effectively manage...

The IT world is changing rapidly – and with it, the role of traditional system integrators. What worked for decades as a proven business model is now under pressure: customers are shifting their workloads to the cloud, relying on managed services, and increasingly consuming IT as a service. A radical rethink is necessary.

1st February marks the annual Change Your Password Day – an important occasion to draw attention to the growing threat posed by insecure passwords and digital attacks. eco offers 5 tips.

In this interview, experienced security expert Nico Leidecker from NVISO explains the advantages of ethical hacking and the aspects to watch out for.

The launch of the German electronic patient record (ePA) is an important step toward further digitalisation of the healthcare system. Prof. Norbert Pohlmann, eco Board Member for IT Security, provides an assessment.

The cybersecurity landscape is undergoing a radical transformation. Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing not only open up new opportunities, but also create new types of threats. Simultaneously, hybrid working models, the expansion of IoT ecosystems and the increasing networking of critical...

During the Advent season, online bargains are tempting – but unfortunately fake shops are also on the rise. A recent eco survey shows that one in three people has already fallen victim to these. With our tips, shoppers can stay safe.

According to a new representative survey conducted by the market and opinion research institute Civey on behalf of eco – Association of the Internet Industry, one in four Germans (25.9%) has already fallen victim to such illegal websites.* At the same time, there is a strong call for legal measures to be taken against such online content: around 85% of those surveyed believe it is important to take legal action against illegal websites.**

Natural disasters, accidents, or sabotage – while our digital infrastructures are secure, they are not invulnerable. Gerald Miersch of PFALZKOM explains how data centres achieve the highest levels of resilience and highlights the vital role of georedundancy.

The electronic patient file marks a digital breakthrough in German healthcare, enabling efficient, cloud-based health data management. Yet, this innovation brings a critical challenge: safeguarding sensitive information. Confidential Computing provides the key solution, ensuring robust data security without sacrificing efficiency.

In this interview, Axel Föry, Executive Vice President Strategy and Business Development at ID Quantique, explains how quantum keys protect highly sensitive data, what practical applications already exist and why companies should start using quantum encryption today.

The EU’s Cyber Resilience Act sets mandatory baseline requirements for the security of connected products and places responsibility on manufacturers.  

In order to protect their data online, every second German uses at least one additional security measure beyond passwords. According to a Civey survey conducted on behalf of eco for the “World More Than a Password Day”, 49.2 per cent of German citizens use two-factor authentication. Prof. Norbert Pohlmann, Board Member for IT Security at eco Association, comments: “Protecting our identity and personal data should be a top priority for all Internet users.”

Global Encryption Day 2024 highlights the crucial role of encryption for data protection and cybersecurity worldwide.

Thomas Pfützenreuther, Managing Director at iAP – Independent Consulting + Audit Professionals, explains what is important as an IT Assurance Partner and the role regulatory compliance plays today.

Today was supposed to be the day. The NIS2 Directive, which has been in force since January 2023, was to be implemented into national law by all EU Member States by 17 October 2024. However, it has been clear for some time that Germany will not meet this deadline. And now?

The large IT security survey is in full swing – take part and support the work of the Security Competence Group in the eco Association!

dotmagazine is the online international magazine covering Internet industry topics with insightful articles from eco members & partners. In this dotmagazine issue, eight industry leaders analyse the pivotal issues of digital security, trust, and consumer protection, offering expert perspectives to help businesses navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape.

This year's Internet Security Days (ISD) 2024 took place under the motto ‘Security as a Gamechanger’. The focus of the industry get-together was on how cybersecurity influences the digitalisation of the economy and society. New technologies, regulations and attack vectors show that digital innovation is only possible on a sustainable basis with reliable protective measures: cybersecurity minimises risks while driving innovation.

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) is an email authentication protocol that helps companies protect their domains from email spoofing and phishing attacks by ensuring that only authorised senders can send emails on behalf of the domain.