Sony data theft prompts GFT CEO Ulrich Dietz to demand more investment in the protection of IT systems

Stuttgart, 3 May 2011 – Industry and the state must invest more in the security of their data and systems. If hackers continue to launch successful attacks and gain access to the data of millions of customers – as recently happened to the electronics group Sony – this will not only lead to a loss of trust among consumers but also shatter the confidence of business clients in their IT systems. This is the view put forward by Ulrich Dietz, CEO of GFT Technologies AG, who has called for closer cooperation between state and industry. He believes trust in IT is also important for the establishment of new technologies and thus for future progress. “There will be no innovations without security. The technical possibilities for a very high level of security are already available, but are not yet being sufficiently utilised,” explains Dietz.

According to Ulrich Dietz, many companies with responsibility for the security of their customer data are too quick to hide behind the statement that there can never be absolute security. “Nobody can guarantee the absolute security of power stations or cars either, but these industries still implement the highest possible level. This standard must also be achieved by the IT sector,” demands Dietz.

The current example of the appliance manufacturer illustrates that almost every company involved with IT is called upon to ensure data security. The technical possibilities for greater security already available on the market are often not fully exploited. Multi-level security solutions, for example, can offer additional protection as attackers have to breach several security levels. Sophisticated processes are also available which significantly raise the probability of attackers leaving traces which will help identify them.

A greater awareness of data security must already be established during the development of new systems. There are also processes in this field which help developers program software with the least possible security-relevant gaps. Security tests conducted by independent companies represent a further quality assurance possibility. “Achieving the highest possible security level obviously costs money. Companies wishing to establish themselves as secure and reliable Internet brands, however, should not shy away from such investments,” explains Dietz. Online traders in particular are often far too naïve when it comes to data security.

Breaches such as that suffered by Sony, where the personal data of over 70 million customers were stolen, not only damage the consumer’s perception of the respective brand, they undermine trust in the IT sector as a whole. “Progress and innovation are often linked with the cross-section technology IT. Companies must be convinced that the security of new applications can be guaranteed. Otherwise, they won’t make the investment,” stresses GFT’s CEO. He cites cloud computing as an example. “We need a safe Internet for this technology”. According to Ulrich Dietz, too much of the data stored in the cloud is not encrypted at present. Such security measures would be possible without high additional costs. “In many cases, it’s simply a lack of will within IT to achieve the highest possible security level,” states Dietz.

In order to implement such improvements in security standards in Germany, Ulrich Dietz calls for closer cooperation between state and industry. “It’s not enough for politicians to adopt the best data protection laws. We also need to keep ahead in the field of technology”. The GFT CEO sees great opportunities for Germany’s IT sector to achieve an edge over its international competitors with the aid of cutting-edge security solutions which will also pave the way for new business models.