The FORDaySec research cluster – Security in everyday digitalisation

Coordinated by the University of Passau, the interdisciplinary research cluster "ForDaySec – Security in everyday digitalisation" is investigating new types of technical procedures that provide cybersecurity to private households, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the public administration. The Bavarian Science Ministry has awarded the cluster a grant worth EUR 3.3. for a four-year period. 

"For our liberal society, cybersecurity is vital. Digitalisation permeates all areas of life. At the same time, the menace of criminal attacks on digital infrastructure is considerable," said Science Minister Markus Blume when he approved the grant for the new "ForDaySec" research cluster headed by Professor Stefan Katzenbeisser and coordinated by the University of Passau.

"Professor Katzenbeisser and his colleagues have scored an enormous success. It's just the right time to bring together the expert knowledge available at Bavarian universities in this immensely important research field. Naturally, as president, it fills me with special pride to see our university in charge of coordinating the new security research network. This demonstrates how Passau is at the cutting edge in this field of research. The creation of ForDaySec fits in perfectly with our plans to set up an IT security centre in collaboration with the Deggendorf Institute of Technology.“

Professor Stefan Katzenbeisser, who holds the Chair of Computer Engineering at the University of Passau, is "ForDaySec" spokesperson. He has been conducting research on IT security solutions for infrastructures for many years: "Networked systems permeate all domains of our society – be it in private households or small- and medium-sized production enterprises or even critical infrastructure operated by the municipality," says the computer scientist. The trends in all these domains are similar: "There's a lack of vigilance in the use of components without security features. There's a lack of know-how and human resources at many levels." At the same time, the threat of suffering a cyberattack, for example, is growing in scale.

The "ForDaySec" research cluster is seeking to redouble efforts to bring together and network ongoing activities in the field of cybersecurity. The transfer of research results will be encouraged in practice by ensuring close cooperation with businesses, chambers of industry and trade, similar clusters and platforms.

At the University of Passau, the following researchers have signed up with the cluster along with Professor Katzenbeisser:

• Professor Joachim Posegga, who holds the Chair of IT Security, and his colleague Dr. Henrich C. Pöhls
• Professor Thomas Riehm, holder of the Chair of German and European Private Law, Civil Procedure and Legal Theory

External participants in the cluster include the University of Bamberg, the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), the Technische Universität München (TUM) and the Universität der Bundeswehr München as associated member. The Bavarian Science Ministry has awarded the cluster a grant worth EUR 3.3 million for a four-year period, with EUR 1.56 million of the grant going to the University of Passau. 

Interdisciplinary research for private households, small- and medium-sized enterprises and the public administration

The unique selling point of the "ForDaySec" cluster is its targeted, interdisciplinary research into new types of technical procedures providing cybersecurity to private households, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the public administration. Researchers from computer science, sociology and law have come together to develop technologies that provide security in day-to-day digital life. The sustainable integration of these technologies into existing systems which cannot be altered arbitrarily because no new software can be installed, for instance, is another research thrust.

To achieve this goal, "ForDaySec" is not only looking into solutions to enhance security for hardware and software but also exploring security concepts that can be implemented without any in-depth knowledge but take into account the requirements of technical data protection. Research resources include jurisprudential papers on update obligations and sociological studies on the use of technology in everyday practical applications.

Further information:

• Press release of the Bavarian Science Ministry
• Press release of the University of Passau