Viadrina leads joint project on information security

In order to effectively protect themselves against cyber attacks and significantly increase the level of information security, eight universities in the state of Brandenburg are working together on the project "Information Security in the Network" (InfoSec). The European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) and the Potsdam University of Applied Sciences are jointly leading the five-year project. The aim is to set up the universities in the state of Brandenburg structurally and organisationally in such a way that they will be ready for certification according to established IT security standards at the end of the project. At the same time, a sustainable exchange is to be established in which all partner universities support each other in the implementation of technical, organisational and legal requirements.

Funded by the ZDT - eight universities on board

The InfoSec joint project is being funded by the Centre of Brandenburg Universities for Digital Transformation (ZDT) with almost 2.7 million euros. In addition to the European University Viadrina and the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam, the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNE), the Brandenburg University of Technology, the Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau and the University of Potsdam are also participating.

Common standards, collegial exchange

Awareness workshops for university management and computer centres are currently being held at the participating universities, emergency drills and plans are being prepared and a regular exchange of information is being established. There is also an exchange on security concepts and concrete technical measures are being planned to increase IT security.

"Information security is a very complex task - and there is no such thing as absolute security. With this project, we are establishing a regular, collegial and constructive dialogue on approaches, fields of action and solutions. This enables us to achieve a significantly higher level of safety together. Thanks to the funding, we are also in a position to provide comprehensive support to all universities in the network," emphasises Dr Lisa Melcher, Director of the Information, Communication and Multimedia Centre (IKMZ) at the European University Viadrina.

Information security creates trust

"The certification maturity aimed for in the project will ensure that current and future partners - especially from the business world - can trust that universities in Brandenburg have a high level of information security. This means that research and collaborations can take place on a reliable and secure basis," explains Kathrin Fischer, Head of Central IT at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences.

The universities not only work with each other, but also with external specialist companies to build up knowledge in a targeted manner and keep it up to date. In this way, a standard that is as uniform as possible can be achieved together without individual universities having to act in isolation and with intensive use of resources. Such a common minimum standard and the trust that arises from the collaboration are prerequisites for the closer cooperation that Brandenburg's universities are striving for in the operation of IT services and in digitalisation.

A central goal of the project is to have all participating universities ready for certification by the end of the project. This path is being pursued in a network with the aim of systematically sharing knowledge, learning from each other and developing practical solutions by involving external specialist companies.

Background: Legal requirements and the real threat situation

The constantly growing threat situation in the digital space, especially for universities, as well as the increasing pressure from legal regulations make such a project necessary. Today, the establishment of information security structures is a basic prerequisite for the smooth operation of research, teaching and administration. They are also an anchor of trust for cooperation with partners from business, science and society.

To the InfoSec project page