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Secure SAP operations: The future of administration

How a BSI-certified platform strengthens cyber defense and drives the digitalization of public administration

October 10 2024Holger Dreßel

Digital administration: Aspirations vs. reality in a European comparison

Whether applying for subsidies, renewing a passport, registering a vehicle, or obtaining a building permit – public administration in Germany often still lacks digital services. Germany was ranked 16th out of 27 in the EU Digital Public Administration Index1 in 2022. According to the eGovernment MONITOR 20232, around 70 percent of citizens want more digital services. To meet this demand, the expansion of a secure and efficient IT infrastructure is essential.

Why administrations must now rely on cloud solutions

Given the growing demands of digitalization, cloud solutions have become unavoidable in public administration. Traditional data centers are increasingly reaching their limits, particularly in terms of scalability and efficiency. However, the cloud transformation brings with it challenges such as data security and data sovereignty. To overcome these challenges, public institutions must ensure that cloud systems meet the highest standards of data sovereignty and data protection.

SAP in the public sector: Complex, demanding, and too few specialists

The growing shortage of specialists and increasingly complex SAP infrastructures are putting public administration IT departments under mounting pressure. The lack of personnel and rising demands on security and efficiency are delaying digitalization. This is precisely where the SAP platform from T-Systems, certified by the German Federal Office for Security and Information Technology (BSI), comes into play, offering a comprehensive and secure solution for operating SAP systems in public administration. Thanks to its flexibility and scalability, administrations can easily adapt their IT systems to new requirements and thus make optimal use of resources.

Certified security for public administration: The SAP platform with BSI approval

An engineer uses a laptop in a cloud computing facility at a server farm

The SAP platform from T-Systems was specifically developed to meet the strict security requirements of public administrations. The ISO 27001 certification, based on IT baseline protection by the BSI, confirms that it complies with the highest security standards and reliably ensures the protection of sensitive data. The platform uses the Future Cloud Infrastructure (FCI) in the highly secure twin-core data center in Magdeburg and Biere. Data is stored and processed exclusively in Germany, fully safeguarding data sovereignty. After almost two years of testing and 3,000 questions answered by T-Systems, the platform not only offers maximum data security, but also flexibility. Authorities can adapt the scope of services and the number of SAP systems at any time without leaving the legal framework. 

How public administrations can protect their SAP systems better

In view of increasing instances of cybercrime and growing digital dependency, the secure operation of SAP systems in public administration is essential. With over 130,000 cyber attacks3 recorded by the Federal Criminal Police Office in 2022 alone, it is clear how vulnerable critical infrastructures are. These threats jeopardize not only financial resources, but also central public services. It is therefore crucial to operate SAP systems in compliance with the highest security standards for protecting sensitive data and ensuring the smooth functioning of public administration.

About the author
Tim Diekmann, Senior Account Manager SAP Solution Sales

Holger Dreßel

Portfolio Manager, SAP Public Sector, T-Systems International GmbH

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1 Germany in the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), 2022, European Commission

2 eGovernment MONITOR 2023, Technical University of Munich, 2023, Initiative D21 

3 Federal Cyber Crime Situation Report 2022, Federal Criminal Police Office and BITKOM, 2023, BKA

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