AFCEA International Chapter News
BONN E.V. CHAPTER CHAPTER - Sep 07, 2017

Meeting the Cyber Challenge

More than 400 participants took part in the 13th IT Symposium in September hosted by the chapter and the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) in Koblenz, Germany. For a full day, high-level speakers and panels discussed the challenges of IT security and cyber defense. According to Dr. Katrin Suder, state secretary in the Federal Ministry of Defense, there is an immense importance for cybersecurity, especially to fight international terrorism. This is the base argument for the digitization of the German Armed Forces, a hot topic at the ministry. The armed forces are transitioning towards a more digitized organization. Three top leaders have been placed at key positions: Lt. Gen. Ludig Leinhos as commander, Cyber and Information Domain; Klaus Hardy Mühleck, director, Cyber and Information Domain in the Ministry; and Ulrich Meister, CEO of BWI GmbH. Yet there are many challenges to overcome, for example how to staff this new branch of service. In a challenging market, the federal armed forces have to position themselves as an attractive employer. Klaus Vitt, state secretary in the Federal Ministry of the Interior, stressed the need to collaborate closely between the Interior, Defense and Armed Forces. Cyber defense is a comprehensive task for the complete government. According to Mühleck, NATO and the international community have to be included as well. During the symposium, the chapter also awarded five graduate students with the "AFCEA Studienpreis" award for outstanding master theses in the fields of applied computer science, communications engineering or automation engineering.

Event Photographs:

High-ranking speakers and participants attend the IT Symposium in Koblenz, Germany in September to discuss the challenges of IT security and cyber defense.
High-ranking speakers and participants attend the IT Symposium in Koblenz, Germany in September to discuss the challenges of IT security and cyber defense.

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