Knowledge Transfer
Eine weitere wichtige Säule der angewandten Forschung ist der Transfer von Wissen. In dem Bereich CyberSecurity gab es Aktivitäten in Form von Teilnahmen und Präsentationen auf verschiedenen Fachkonferenzen, Fachvorträge, Lehrveranstaltungen und ein großes Vernetzungs- und Transferevent, den Transfertag 2024:
Transfer Day
Der Transfertag der Hochschule Aalen ist ein etabliertes Forum zur Vermittlung von Wissen zwischen Wissenschaft und Praxis. Die zehnte Ausgabe mit dem Titel „Cybersecurity im Zeitalter der Digitalisierung – Unternehmen zukunftsfähig absichern“ fand am 18.04.2024, in Kooperation mit der IHK Ostwürttemberg, statt. Ziel war es, Unternehmen für Cybersicherheit zu sensibilisieren und sie bei der Umsetzung von Maßnahmen zu unterstützen. Es wurden Fachvorträge, Praxisimpulse und ein Live-Hack angeboten. Fachleute, etwa vom BSI, präsentierten praxisnahe Lösungen. Der CyberSicherheitsCheck für KMU wurde vor etwa 200 Teilnehmenden, überwiegend Vertretern kleiner und mittlerer Unternehmen, vorgestellt.
Specialist Lectures
Various specialist presentations were held both nationally and internationally for the purposes of knowledge transfer and project communication:
KES International: http://www.kesinternational.org/index.php
Several specialist presentations were given at KES conferences as part of the project. Research findings were presented at the sub-conference ‘Smart Digital Futures 2023’ in Rome. Using a structural equation model, the study demonstrated that there is a significant positive correlation between the importance of trade secrets, preventive measures and the perceived threat of industrial espionage.
In the same year, another presentation on the results of a further study was given at the KES main conference in Athens. Information on the current state of equipment and expertise regarding cybersecurity in SMEs was presented, as well as information on the support needs of SMEs. In addition, a structural equation model was presented which shows the significant positive influence of ‘motives for action’ and ‘lack of prevention’ on the threat to SMEs from cybercrime.
Due to the high topicality and importance of the topic ‘Cybersecurity in SMEs’, Prof. Dr. Ralf Härting was invited as a keynote speaker for KES 2024 in Seville. With 45 minutes on the main stage of the conference, the presentation focused on the CyberSecurityCheck for SMEs and offered the publication and discussion of the concept in an international context.
In addition, the concept was presented in a lecture at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Further invitations to present the concept have been received both nationally and internationally.
Teaching
The contents of the project were integrated into teaching at Aalen University, particularly in the bachelor's degree programme ‘Business Administration for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises’ and the master's degree programmes ‘SME Management’ and ‘Business Informatics’. Students dealt with the topics of the project in lectures, seminars, team projects and final theses and wrote research papers. On the transfer day, Bachelor's students were able to present their work and exchange ideas with experts. Outstanding theses are supported and encouraged for publication.
The topics covered in the student projects and final theses were:
- Cyber Security Culture in SME
- Cyber defence in SMEs – motivation analysis
- Gamification in Cybersecurity – Trainig for SME
- Industrial espionage as a threat to SMEs
- Cyber Security and Management 4.0 in SMEs
- Deteminants of Establishing a Successfull Cyber Security Culture in SMEs
- Implementation of a zero trust architecture for an SME
- Organisational adaptation requirements due to increasing cyber threats
- Resilience of employees in SMEs to cyber threats and their motivation
- Industrial espionage and competitive intelligence
- Potential of Zero Trust as a Security Business Model for SMEs
- Cybersecurity in SMEs – Drivers of Cybercrime, Insufficient Equipment and Prevention
- DIN SPEC 27076, NIS 2 guideline
- Authentification
- Statistics on cyber attacks
- Examples of companies targeted by cyber attacks