Baden-Württemberg: New cybersecurity agency in the fight against cybercrime!

Baden-Württemberg: New cybersecurity agency in the fight against cybercrime!

The Baden-Württemberg Cybersecurity Agency (CSBW), which was founded in 2022, has established itself as the central state authority to improve the cyber security situation in the state. This agency complements the existing cyber security structure in Baden-Württemberg and acts as a contact for the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). The CSBW is tasked with promoting operational information sharing, particularly given the tense cyber threat situation further exacerbated by the Ukraine conflict. As bdk.de reports, the CSBW's concentration on central tasks in the state administration and in the authorities and municipalities is welcomed.

CSBW employees benefit from a new learning offer that includes the establishment of a learning platform. In addition, an educational game on IT security and prevention was introduced to increase cybersecurity awareness. The public can also obtain information in various ways, for example through explanatory videos and fact sheets on cybersecurity. Vulnerability scans for public administration and advice on IT infrastructure are also offered, especially after cyber incidents.

Cybercrime challenges

Cybersecurity in Germany is increasingly viewed as worrying. The BSI's current situation report shows that cybercriminals have professionalized their methods and use modern technologies. The cybercriminals have created established structures for criminal services in cyberspace. According to bsi.bund.de, digitalization is a double-edged sword: It expands the attack surfaces and leads to an increased number of security gaps.

Advanced Persistent Threats (APT groups), which increasingly engage in cyber espionage and specifically attack authorities, pose a significant threat. Additionally, the report shows that the number of high-volume DDoS attacks increased significantly in the first half of 2024. Ransomware attacks often hit small and medium-sized businesses and municipalities, which can result in months of downtime. A notable case from October 2023 involved a municipal IT service provider that operated in 72 municipalities and put 20,000 jobs at risk.

Growing resilience and cooperation

In order to counter the increasing threat, close cooperation between all parties involved is required. Manufacturers should develop secure products, while operators must implement cybersecurity principles to protect their systems. Consumers are also encouraged to improve their cybersecurity skills. According to the BSI, success in combating malware is only possible through international cooperation. Important steps have already been taken there to uncover and combat botnets.

The decision to relocate the cybersecurity agency to Stuttgart Bad-Cannstatt will improve accessibility between the relevant authorities, such as the State Criminal Police Office and the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution. A conversation between BDK state chairman Steffen Mayer and president Nicole Matthöfer at the beginning of 2025 promoted mutual understanding and is another example of the necessary cooperation in the cybersecurity landscape.

The growing need for resilience against cybercrime is not only a local but also a national mandate. Germany's cybersecurity architecture is designed to actively counter threats and increase the security of the digital infrastructure, as the BSI management report makes clear.