Eavesdropping attack, surveillance and data theft are just a few terms which everyone has been talking about at the latest since the revelation of the NSA scandal. German business enterprises in particular are alarmed and intend to probably spend considerably more on IT security measures than before. That is the result of a current study by the Internet provider association, eco. Experts report that one in three companies has already been spied on. According to estimates of the Federation of German Industries, the damage caused by data and knowledge theft amounts to at least 50 billion euros every year.

Data protection and data security are therefore also major topics at this year's Security Essen. The world's leading fair for security and fire prevention technology is showing innovative technologies, system solutions and services which permit secure communication and prevent attacks on sensitive data at Messe Essen from 23 to 26 September 2014.

From IT forensics and bug detectors to the tap-proof telephone
Among the more than 1,000 exhibitors at the Security Essen, 50 are exhibiting in the IT security sector. They include Antago GmbH (hall 5, stand 325 A). It has undertaken to detect security gaps in companies and give appropriate recommendations for action. Security scans and penetration tests make the sensitive digital points of attack visible. In an emergency, Antago has solutions on hand and develops special emergency manuals with first-aid measures. That also includes the collection of forensic evidence to identify computer criminals.

Not only digital data are of interest to industrial spies but also the spoken word. The portfolio of Fink Secure Communication (hall 5, stand 217) includes systems for the identification of wireless bugs. New prototypes of an analyser and a telescopic camera for almost inaccessible locations which reliably permit the detection of bugs are being presented at the Security.

EMshield (hall 5, stand 220) has specialised in active and architectural bug protection. At the Security Essen the company is presenting a secure case for mobile terminals which functions like a Faraday cage: To make confidential calls, the smart phone, laptop or tablet is deposited in the case. It is then impossible to transmit or receive data. Another product from EMshield is the DCS - Data Center Shielding, a room shielding solution, especially for computer centres. The high-frequency envelope protects IT rooms against electric and magnetic disruptions from outside and the transmission of information from inside. The advantage: The DCS can be integrated into already existing rooms and is also suitable for outdoor containers.

IT security made in Germany: The currently safest external hard drive on the market is the HS256S, according to the manufacturer, DIGITTRADE (hall 5, stand 210). The company claims it is the only hard drive certified to store personal data at authorities and public offices and satisfies the requirements of the German Data Protection Act and the EC data protection directives. Hardware encryption with 2-factor authentication makes data exchange secure and, at the same time, it is easy to operate. The cryptographic key is located on a chip card in EC card format. The data cannot be read until the card is inserted into the hard drive and an 8-digit PIN code is also entered.

Beaucom promises immunity to the eavesdropping of mobile phones at military level (hall 5, stand 212). As a specialist in the field of secure communication for GSM networks, the company is bringing a further development for the mobile phone model, Enigma T301E, to the Security Essen. In addition to encrypted speech transmission, encrypted SMS transmission is now also possible.