A few days ago, Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner and the Chairman of Cyber Security Austria (CSA), Josef Pichlmayr, signed a cooperation agreement. The aim is to promote exchange between the Austrian Armed Forces and the CSA is to be institutionalized and intensified. The declaration was signed at the St. Pölten UAS in the presence of Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Governor of Lower Austria.
During the signing ceremony, Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner said: “Cyber security is an essential part of our national defense. By cooperating with the CSA, we want to ensure better protection and contribute to the intensive training of highly qualified specialists in the field of cyber security. Together, we can seize the opportunities of digitalization and overcome challenges. With its training at the Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt and the training and research here in St. Pölten, Lower Austria is the competence center when it comes to cyber defense and security.”
Key points of the declaration of intent are IT security excellence, IT security, the ICT security industry and ICT security research. In addition, awareness is to be created nationwide on important topics of cyber defense and cyber security in the sense of comprehensive national defense. Furthermore, IT security should be given a higher priority in all areas of education in order to train and subsequently attract highly qualified specialists. A cyber militia model is also to be created.
“Cybersecurity is an essential part of our national defense.”
Verteidigungsministerin Klaudia Tanner
Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner pointed out the increase in cybercrime: “In the past five years, cybercrime in Austria has doubled. This shows the need to further increase our efforts in the area of cyber security. And the cooperation between the Ministry of Defence and the CSA will also contribute to this, alongside numerous other initiatives, for example in the House of Digitalization in Tulln.”
Cyber Security Austria is becoming increasingly important
Cyber Security Austria is an association that promotes the security of Austria’s strategic infrastructure. The association is independent, non-profit and non-partisan. The focus is on the security initiatives Austrian Cyber Security Challenge, Promotion of the Security of Austria’s Strategic Infrastructure and INDUCE (Cyber Security Literacy And Dexterity through Cyber Exercises).
“Cyber security is a highly exciting professional field, an amalgamation of various disciplines, from computer science to psychology, forensics and legal issues, right through to politics and ethics. As in many areas, we are also lacking specialists in this field, but above all the potential of women in cyber security, which has barely been tapped,” explains Stephanie Jakoubi, head of the “Hackinnen” agenda and member of the CSA board. “We at the CSA have therefore been offering free monthly hacker training courses for women since December 2023. There is huge interest and participation is possible at any time.”
The field of cyber security has been playing an increasingly important role both nationally and internationally for years. The Austrian Cyber Security Challenge is Austria’s first IT security talent search to recruit talented young people. The Austrian Armed Forces are also constantly looking for talent in this area and former participants now work in the Ministry of Defense. Two years ago, the university of applied sciences bachelor’s degree course in “military information and communication technology leadership” was launched, for which future ICT officers can apply.
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