ACS
Alliance for Cyber Security (Germany)
Allianz für Cyber-Sicherheit
The Alliance for Cyber Security is a cooperation initiative founded by the Federal Office for Information Security (Germany) (BSI) in 2012 that connects German businesses, public administrations and research institutions with government bodies in a shared information space. It provides situation reports, guidance and warning notices and enables trust-based exchange — without certification overhead and free of charge for partners. It is Germany's low-threshold entry point into the state-private cybersecurity network.
History & facts. The Federal Office for Information Security (Germany) (BSI) launched the Alliance for Cyber Security in 2012 together with the industry association Bitkom, in response to the widening gap between the government situation picture and the attack experience of German companies. Membership is tiered: participants receive warnings and publications, partners actively contribute (case reports, multiplier role) and multipliers carry content into industry associations, chambers and networks. The offering includes the monthly Cyber Security Day, thematic experience and expert circles as well as a closed reporting and information area for partners.
Outlook & recommendation. For SMEs and Critical Infrastructure (KRITIS) operators, the Alliance is one of the cheapest and most pragmatic ways to obtain well-founded Federal Office for Information Security (Germany) (BSI) warnings and guidance — while feeding one's own experience into the discourse without the formal effort of an ISO certification. Anyone falling under Network and Information Security Directive 2 (NIS2) should consider membership alongside BSI registration; it does not replace reporting duties but noticeably strengthens the early-warning network. NEOSEC is a partner of the Alliance and supports clients in joining.