Data Security is a Prerequisite for Succesful “Industrie 4.0” Implementation: Infineon and Deutsche Telekom Demonstrate Security Technology “Made in Germany” at IT Summit “Nationaler IT-Gipfel 2014”

Joint press release of Infineon Technologies and Deutsche Telekom

• Germany has the potential to become lead market and leading provider for “Industrie 4.0”
• Infineon and Deutsche Telekom join forces to improve data security
• Market ready, certified security products increase confidence in networked production
• Concerted investment incentives for implementing “Industrie 4.0” required

Hamburg, Germany – October 21, 2014 – Infineon Technologies AG and Deutsche Telekom AG today presented a security solution for the protection of networked production on occasion of the “Nationaler IT-Gipfel 2014” in Hamburg. The solution is especially targeted at small and mid-sized businesses from e.g. the machine building industry or  automotive suppliers. Laboratories, fabs and warehouses of suppliers, manufacturers and customers are increasingly intertwined and exchange data. By analyzing this data and applying the results, productivity and flexibility of industrial production can be continuously improved.

The  security technology shown at the event demonstrates how sensitive data can be communicated through secured channels from one German production site to another. The solution is “Made in Germany” and its development has been supported by Fraunhofer SIT, TRUMPF, WIBU-SYSTEMS and Hirschmann (A Belden Company).

“’Industrie 4.0’ opens the doors to our plants – with security solutions ‘Made in Germany’, we protect our know-how and our machines in an increasingly networked production environment. ‘Industrie 4.0’ is a big opportunity for our industry if we use it in the right way. Confidence in data security is decisive for the successful implementation and the global competitiveness of German businesses,” says Reinhard Ploss, CEO of Infineon Technologies AG.

“Deutsche Telekom wants to be a trustful player for industrial manufacturers. We are currently developing concrete solutions which can be installed already today for ‘Industrie 4.0’ applications. In this context, security is a central issue for our customers and partners. Joining forces with our partner Infineon underlines that we want to tackle ‘secure communications for connected industrial systems’ by providing dedicated solutions,” says Timotheus Höttges, CEO of Deutsche Telekom AG.

Politics can support the implementation of ‘Industrie 4.0’ by the means of concerted investment incentives to promote a technology boost at enterprises –whether small and mid-sized businesses or large corporations developing cost intensive technologies. This would help German companies to further improve productivity and efficiency, and to set technological standards in global competition in the future. Likewise, public-private partnerships (PPP) with the involvement of the German Federal Agency for Security in Information Technology (BSI) and industry associations could define standards and certifications instilling confidence in the security of ‘Industrie 4.0’.

The security technology presented today is available and was developed in joint research projects of the industry partners with the support of the German Federal Department of Education and Research (BMBF).

All  security chips are supplied by Infineon. They identify computers, routers and machines in networks and grant access to the company network only to authorized persons and non-manipulated devices. Only after the successful authentication process, encrypted data can be transmitted from one business site to another via secure telecommunications networks.

Deutsche Telekom provides secure and widespread network infrastructure which is a building block for real-time-connectivity. This includes secured cloud services (Made in Germany) as well as mobile devices and their integration into processes and applications. The company’s Cyber Defense Center is a crucial element of the demonstrated solution as it enables secured end-to-end communication.

About Deutsche Telekom

Deutsche Telekom is one of the world’s leading integrated telecommunications companies with over 142 million mobile customers, 31 million fixed-network lines and more than 17 million broadband lines (as of December 31, 2013). The Group provides fixed network, mobile communications, Internet and IPTV products and services for consumers and ICT solutions for business customers and corporate customers. Deutsche Telekom is present in around 50 countries and has approximately 229,000 employees worldwide. The Group generated revenues of EUR 60.1 billion in the 2013 financial year - more than half of it outside Germany.

Infineon Technologies AG, Neubiberg, Germany, offers semiconductor and system solutions addressing three central challenges to modern society: energy efficiency, mobility, and security. In the 2013 fiscal year (ending September 30), the company reported sales of Euro 3.84 billion with close to 26,700 employees worldwide. Infineon is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: IFX) and in the USA on the over-the-counter market OTCQX International Premier (ticker symbol: IFNNY).