Small and medium-sized businesses in sight: Cyber ​​crime is alarming entrepreneurs in the region

Small and medium-sized businesses in sight: Cyber ​​crime is alarming entrepreneurs in the region

On October 26, 2025, many entrepreneurs gathered in Cologne to find out about the explosive topics of cyber crime and the necessary protective measures at the IHK security conference. Digital know-how is essential these days, and this is also noticed by IHK President Birgit Hakenjos, who emphasized in her opening speech that medium-sized businesses are a particularly popular target for cyber attacks. It is important to recognize: IT security is one of the entrepreneurial obligations of every company.

The statistics presented at the conference show how alarming the situation is: in 2024, a 74 percent increase in data thefts was recorded, which caused a total loss of around 180 billion euros. Despite these warning signs, there are still many companies that continue to underestimate the risks. Klaus Schmid from the IHK general assembly also discussed the challenges in our region at the conference and emphasized the urgency of this problem.

Protection mechanisms and exchange

The focus of the conference was on educating companies about effective protection mechanisms and promoting exchange between companies, IT service providers and authorities. Oliver Schneider from Risk-Workers GmbH gave insights into the specific difficulties that small and medium-sized companies face. He recommended calculating the potential costs of a production shutdown. This could raise awareness of the need for IT security and encourage entrepreneurs to take proactive measures.

The conference was not only a platform for lectures, but also offered space for personal discussions. Participants had the opportunity to talk to regional IT service providers and get to know innovative solutions. An important point raised by Kritis expert Manuel Atug was digital sovereignty in a time when AI and networked infrastructures shape our everyday lives. In this regard, Atug recalled that cybersecurity is not a one-time project, but a continuous process for which each entrepreneur is responsible.

Conclusion and contact

The IHK conference impressively showed how relevant the topic of cyber security is for the local entrepreneurial landscape. Entrepreneurs who would like to delve deeper into the topic or have questions can contact Alexander Rösgen directly. It is time for established companies to consciously address the dangers and take appropriate steps to ensure their IT security.

Although the challenges are great, the exchange at such events shows that solutions are possible and in demand. Cooperation in business is the key to a secure digital future.

For further information and impressions from the IHK security conference, visit the article on Black Forest messenger.