A recent confidential report to the Federal Budget Committee, reported by Der Spiegel, highlights significant security vulnerabilities within the federal government’s data centers and networks. The Federal Court of Auditors has issued a warning, stating that the IT infrastructure of the federal government is inadequately prepared for current threats.
The report assesses the current security level of over 100 federal data centers as “insufficient” with fewer than ten percent meeting the minimum standard. Critically, the report indicates that backup power systems are not adequately equipped to handle crisis situations. Without resilient data centers, essential governmental functions, such as social welfare programs, could be severely compromised.
The auditors also strongly criticize the “Cybersecurity Strategy” presented in 2021 by the then-Federal Minister of the Interior, Horst Seehofer (CSU). The report asserts that the federal government failed to adequately analyze existing deficits, including both personnel and expenditure needs. The Federal Court of Auditors recommends that the new federal government now undertake a thorough analysis of the current security architecture, streamlining it to enhance efficiency and ensure swift and effective response capabilities in the event of major cyber incidents.