Following the cyberattacks targeting the cooling technology of supermarkets, Federal Minister for Digital Affairs Karsten Wildberger (CDU) is calling for increased efforts to safeguard digital building and operational technology. Wildberger told the news outlet “Welt” that the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) had already issued similar advisories even before the recent cyberattacks.
“Firstly, this shows that we are living in a world where the issue of cybersecurity is unfortunately gaining ever-greater importance,” he stated, emphasizing that both businesses and government administrations must exercise greater caution. He reminded people that two weeks prior to these incidents, the BSI had officially warned that attacks targeting connected operational and building technology were a possibility, and had published a catalogue of recommended actions. Wildberger stressed that these recommendations must now be implemented, noting that this challenge will become increasingly demanding.
Wildberger also cautioned that for the anticipated AI initiative in Germany, the security of critical infrastructure must be maintained. He stressed that security is prerequisite for this, asserting that technology and Artificial Intelligence cannot be considered without ensuring safety.
He also noted that Germany possesses the necessary expertise for this domain, boasting excellent companies and a productive exchange between politics, industry, civil society, and science. While significant progress has been made over the past year, Wildberger emphasized that much more work is still required. He expressed confidence that a significant recovery is possible if the political will and courage are committed to implementation, adding that this includes Artificial Intelligence, but it must be secure.
