Berlin's critical infrastuctures are interrelated and a vulnerable goal for cyberattacks
The digitization of all areas of life increases our dependence on secure ICT. This can particularly create risks for our critical infrastructures (CRITIS). For our societies, they are of vital importance, and their failure could lead to lasting supply bottlenecks or significant disruptions to public safety and order. Especially in a major city like Berlin, CRITIS are highly vulnerable. Failures in one area, can affect others.
For this reason, the DSI was conducting a comprehensive research project on the cyber security of critical infrastructures (CRITIS) on behalf of Berlin’s Interior Senate. Through hosting of several dialogue workshops, we identified risks and dependencies besides analysing them. In collaboration with the Senate and critical infrastructure providers, based on the ISO 27000-series, Lola Attenberger developed a model for an Urban-Cyber-Risk-Analysis (UCR). This model is a pioneer model, aiming to function as a basis for an international standard to improve local cyber crisis prevention. The model entails in addition to technical and organizational risks, cross-sectoral risks on the meta-level. Furthermore, the workshops served the purpose to establish networks for streamlined crisis communication and cooperation among the invited stakeholders, a process supported scientifically by DSI through modelling information and communication relationships. In this way, the project aimed at connecting the relevant actors in order to increase resilience of Berlin's CRITIS against cyberattacks and to improve the reactive abilities in a promptly and coordinated manner in case of emergencies.
Our experts:
- Lola Attenberger, Researcher & Project Lead, Digital Society Institute Berlin, ESMT Berlin
- Nils Wehkamp, Researcher & Project Lead, Digital Society Institute Berlin, ESMT