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Building the Foundations for the Future: Call for Contributions

Developing Trust in Digitalization: Call for Contributions

GAIA-X: Growing a Vibrant European Ecosystem

Andreas Weiss, Director of EuroCloud Deutschland e.V. and Head of the Digital Business Models division at eco, introduces the new European data infrastructure project that aims to grow a sovereign and self-determined digital ecosystem in Europe.

Feature 5G Networks

The DE-CIX Digital Triangle for Edge Interconnection

Ivo Ivanov, COO of the DE-CIX Group AG, looks at the interplay of IoT, 5G & AI – the “digital interconnection triangle” of future innovation.

Networks

One Million FTTH Connections – Data Volumes Pose the Biggest Challenge

Stefan Kreibig from inexio explains how the inexio network has evolved since inception, and writes about their ambitious goals for fiber-to-the-house connections.

Feature Data Center

The Edge & Edge Data Centers: Gaining Clarity - doteditorial

Béla Waldhauser, Leader of the eco Competence Group Data Center Infrastructure, grapples with the definition of edge data centers and envisages the environment that will evolve at the edge of 5G networks.

Cyber Security

Cyber Security: Dancing with Wolves

Independent consultant Gerd Simon offers advice for companies on improving IT security and undertaking an effective risk assessment for cyber security.

Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing: Optimizing IT with Artificial Intelligence

Henrik Hasenkamp from gridscale explains how data analytics in the data center itself can be used to increase performance, reliability & security.

Cloud Computing

Cyber Security from the Cloud – Offering SMBs Enterprise-Grade Security

The BSI’s yearly report on cyber security paints a bleak picture. But there is a ray of hope, reports Roger Scheer from Veronym.

Feature IoT

The Internet of Things – Understanding IoT from a Security Perspective

Joseph Carsen from Thycotic looks at IoT risk assessment and calls for a redefinition of IoT to achieve clarity from a security perspective.

IoT

Making the Internet of Things More Secure

Klaus J. Müller from LEITWERK explains how IoT can be made more secure – by removing the end-user’s ability to make bad decisions.

Artificial Intelligence

AI to Detect and Defend Against Cyber Attacks

Marc Wilczek from Link11 speaks to dotmagazine about the power of AI to solve cyber security issues.

Multi Cloud

Simplifying Multi-Cloud Environments for Digital Transformation

Christine B. Müller from IBM Deutschland looks at the value of adopting a multi-cloud strategy.

Digital Transformation

Facing Digital Evolution as an MSP

Bernd Krakau from Datagroup summarizes the role of managed service providers in future digital evolution.

Feature 5G Networks

5G: Much More Than Just “Ultrafast Internet” on the Smartphone – New Requirements for Industry of the Future

Dr. Christoph Dietzel from DE-CIX sheds light on interesting 5G use-cases from business and industry, and examines to what extent 5G will revolutionize industry.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence – Present and Future

AI is a key trend in the digital age, says Dietmar Kessler from Equinix, and handling the data and connecting the players are challenges here for infrastructure.

Feature Industrial IoT

IoT and Industry 4.0 Paving the Way

eco's Managing Director Alexander Rabe argues that industrial IoT requires a rethinking of central value creation processes, or even of entire business models.

Cloud Computing

Input Management in the Cloud: The Most Important Facts for Navigating the Future

When it comes to digital invoice processing, cloud computing can make things much easier without compromising security, Dolf van den Boorn from BCT shows.

Digital Ecosystem

Transforming Business Models in the Platform Economy

Digital economist Holger Schmidt explains the three waves of digital transformation and how platform-based business models evolve.

Feature Artificial Intelligence

The Engine and Drivers of Digital Transformation – doteditorial

Andreas Weiss from the eco Association looks at how to develop a digital strategy and how to make the most of AI in developing new digital business models.

Feature Digitalization

Digital Transformation and AI: Balancing Today’s Business with the Business of Tomorrow

What does it take for a company to successfully manage digital transformation? Saskia Steinacker, Global Head of Digital Transformation at Bayer AG & member of the EC’s High-Level Expert Group on AI, explains.

Data Protection & Privacy

GDPR Compliance of Companies: Challenges in the Use of Cloud Services

Ensuring compliancy with data protection requirements such as the GDPR for data storage and processing is challenging. Stefanie Köhl and Heidrun Müller from eGovCD explore how approved rules of conduct can be a cost-effective alternative to certification.

Artificial Intelligence

Overcoming Preconceptions about AI in the Healthcare Industry

Rather than robots, it will be monitoring systems using AI that will enable people to live independently for longer, VIVAI’s Bettina Horster argues.

Blockchain

How Could Digital Identities and Blockchain Make our Lives Easier?

Sebastian Beyer from CERTIVATION GmbH explains how digital identities and blockchain could make our lives easier.

Blockchain

How to Manage Customer Digital Identities – What’s the Best Way?

Volker Zinser from Ubisecure looks at how best to implement customer ID management sustainably and how to leverage the process for greater business success.

Data Center

Future-Proof Physical Security of Data Centers for Progressively Growing (Legal) Requirements

Jan Sanders from Kentix talks about ensuring physical security for data centers in an evolving technical and legal environment.

Email Best Practices

Email Address Internationalization - Communicating with Billions

John Levine from the Universal Acceptance Steering Group at ICANN speaks to Julia Janssen-Holldiek (CSA) about the potential of internationalized email addresses to communicate with billions.

Identity Management

Self-Sovereign Identity Technology meets Identity & Access Management

Sebastian Weidenbach from esatus AG explores whether Self-Sovereign Identity can deliver what it promises for identity & access.

Email Best Practices

Sorting the Wheat from the Chaff - The Attention Value of Emails in an Ever-Increasing Stream of Messages

Willem Voogt from Aangetekend B.V. draws the comparison between attention value in physical and electronic mail, and looks at the influence of the eIDAS Regulation and the GDPR on email reliability.

Feature Authentication

Adding Trust & Security to Internet Interactions with DNSSEC

DNSSEC does two things: It ensures you’re talking to the right online resource, and it verifies that the information you receive has not been tampered with, Patrick Koetter from sys4 AG explains.

Email Best Practices

Protecting Brand Identity in Email

Tobias Herkula from Cyren talks to Julia Janssen-Holldiek (CSA) about why marketers need computational trust to protect their brand online.

Future of Email

Making Inboxes Smart with schema.org

Magnus Eén from Westwing and Dr. Conny Junghans from 1&1 spoke to Julia Janssen-Holldiek (CSA) about introducing schema.org to enhance commercial emails.

Feature Identity Management

Identity in Digital Space - doteditorial

Klaus Landefeld from the eco Association looks at online identification, authentication & sovereignty, and bridging the digital and analog worlds.

Domains

.berlin, .tokyo or .vegas: How GeoTLDs Help Form Distinctive Digital Identities

Katrin Ohlmer from DOTZON explores how a city can develop and exploit a stable digital identity through a GeoTLD.

Identity Management

ID4me – the Identity Layer the Internet Founders Forgot to Build

Neal McPherson from 1&1 IONOS, on handing back control of data & identity management to the user through implementing the open ID4me single sign-on standard.

Feature Connectivity

IPv6 – Making the Internet End-to-End Addressable Again

dotmagazine speaks to Klaus Landefeld from the eco Association about why IPv6 adoption is so slow, and why it's imperative for IoT.

Email Best Practices

DMARC - Protecting Your Infrastructure and Users from Phishing Attacks

Technical measures have been standardized to make phishing attacks less successful, Sven Krohlas from BFK explains – they just need to be implemented.

IoT

Smart Lock Market Growth Boosted By the Rising Popularity of Smartphones

Smart lock technology simplifies access management for both users and administrators, without compromising security, writes Sanna Räsänen from Herman IT.

The Email Revolution Transforming Customer Experience

Email has become a vital e-commerce tool, and new initiatives are set to improve security, user experience, and ROI, say Marcel Becker from Verizon Media Group and Seth Blank from Valimail.

Feature Email

The Future of Email – Email Just For You

Julia Janssen-Holldiek, Director of the CSA, on the exciting future of individualized email, and why marketers should find email standards sexy.

Women in Tech

Women in Tech: Be Authentic and Try Something New

Do women have a place in the tech industry? Yes! says Sabrina Waltz from 1&1 IONOS. She offers advice & encouragement to women wanting to enter the sector.

Interactive Email

Mark Robbins from Salesforce explains how interactivity is breathing new life into email, and its impact on conversions, spend, & customer relationships.

Digital Communication

Introducing COI: An Open Chat System Based on Email

Vittorio Bertola & Robert Virkus from Open-Xchange, on an open-source, interoperable messaging system freely accessible to nearly 4 bn email users worldwide.

Women in Tech

Women in the Tech Industry

Stefanie Kemp, Member of the eco Association Presidency Committee, on role models, the gender quota, and the importance of diversity for successful teams.

Email Best Practices

Building Relationships Through Customer Feedback

Leonie Jonker from Paula’s Choice Skincare, on email’s power to retain customers and improve communication and interaction through customer feedback.

Cyber Security

Prospects for a Future in Digital Communication – What About Security?

Hannah Kreyenberg from Hornet Security on the importance of email security for the success of digitalization and the protection of company assets.

New Work

New Work – Benefits for Companies and Employees Alike

Flexibility & social responsibility play major roles in how people work and who they choose to work for in the future, says Melanie Buck from GoDaddy.

Artificial Intelligence

Teaching AI to Learn

Prof. De Kai explains how AI can learn independently, and why we need to be careful to offer good role models for them to learn from.

Feature Digital Ethics

Digital Education as the Foundation of Digital Ethics in the Interconnected World

The interconnected world of tomorrow calls for an ethical approach to digital education today, a topic delved into by eco’s Managing Director Alexander Rabe.

Unified Communications

5 Tips on How to Drive Digitalization Forward

So you want to open your SME to the potential benefits of digitalization? Detlev Artelt from Aixvox offers guidance on how to get started.

Feature New Work

New Work: Achieving Both Company & Personal Goals – doteditorial

Offering employees flexibility and supporting diversity benefits the company as a whole, as Lucia Falkenburg, CPO of the eco Association explains.

Feature Unified Communications

The Way Forward: Flexibility and Collaboration as Cornerstones of Digital Business Models

New Work is now an indispensable part of digital business models. Andreas Weiss from eco, on what it takes to convert New Work principles into practice.

New Work

New Talent Management: What’s Needed is Disruptors, Not Careerists

What are the key skills for companies to succeed in the digital economy? Ursula Vranken advises a re-appraisal of talent.

Feature Internet Industry

The Internet of the Future – What happens behind the scenes?

How will the Internet evolve to keep pace with digital innovation? Christoph Dietzel from DE-CIX offers his vision of the Internet of the future.

Edge Computing

Redefining Data Centers for the Edge

How is data center design and redundancy evolving for edge environments? Independent consultant Gerd Simon looks at bringing data to life at the edge.

Connectivity

Future Smart City – How the Internet of Things is Transforming Our Cities

Dietmar Kessler from Equinix explores services in the city of the future, and the digital infrastructure required as a foundation of the smart city concept.

Feature Connectivity

Impact of 5G on Digital Infrastructure Investment

Klaus Landefeld, Board Member at the eco Association, looks at what investments are still needed to fully exploit the potential of 5G.

Connectivity

Public WiFi – The Basis for Digital Transformation

Björn Schwarze from ADDIX Internet Services GmbH, on the challenges and societal benefits of providing free public WiFi across cities and rural areas.

Connectivity

The Never-Ending Success Story: Dark Fiber

Wolfram Rinner from GasLINE explores how 5G campus networks and fiber-optic connectivity can exploit the potential of Industry 4.0 in the automotive industry.

Data Center

Data Centers and E-Waste

David McCall from QTS looks at how data centers can help improve the disposal of electronic components through an IT Asset Disposal program.

Data Center

Data Centers are Here to Stay – We Won’t Stop Using Data

Laurent Tognazzi from Siemens looks at the current development of the data center market, and what this means for enterprise IT infrastructure decisions.

Data Center

A Balanced Data Center Design

Mathias Loacher from 1&1 IONOS explains the factors influencing data center design and planning, and the benefits of their own new data center design.

Data Center

Multi-Tenant Data Centers: Managing Data for Less

Lauren Fahey & Tony Robinson from Corning on the benefits of outsourcing data center needs to multi-tenant facilities, & finding the right DC for your needs

Feature Digital Infrastructure

Digital Infrastructure is Fundamental to Economic Growth in Europe - doteditorial

Dr. Béla Waldhauser from the eco Association looks at the digital infrastructure requirements for Europe to remain competitive in the global digital economy

Feature Connectivity

Connectivity as a Key Differentiator for Data Centers

Ivo Ivanov from DE-CIX, on the value of quality connectivity services for enterprises and data centers.

Data Center

Next Level Data Center Security

Toan Nguyen from e-shelter explores secure access to data centers thanks to hand vein scanners and blockchain.

Data Center

Colocation: Make or Buy? What is Worthwhile, and for Whom?

Wolfgang Kaufmann from Datacenter One says enterprises don’t need to choose between owning a data center & outsourcing: They can have the best of both worlds

Data Protection & Privacy

Data Protection for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles

Marco Müller-ter Jung from DWF Law looks at what data protection means for the development of new services in the area of the connected and autonomous car.

Feature Digital Infrastructure

Future of Connected Mobility

The mobility of the future is connected, and offering the right vehicle, in the right place, and for every need is only possible and sustainable with the help of the Internet industry, says Alexander Rabe of the eco Association.

Logistics

Setting Standards for Logistics in the New Digital Service World

Dr. Hendrik Rosenboom from DKV Mobility Services Group, on the role that logistics is playing in reshaping the transport and mobility sectors.

Feature Connected Car

The Connected Car Ecosystem - doteditorial

Thorsten Stuke, Mobility Expert at the eco Association, looks at the evolution of multimodal mobility and the connected car industry.

Feature Cyber Security

Making Connected Cars Safe

Prof. Norbert Pohlmann from the eco Association looks at how the automotive Internet industries should work together to improve Connected Car security.

Digital Infrastructure

Designing 5G Networks for the Mobility Challenge

Gerd Simon from the Data Center Group, on how to build 5G networks that are reliable and energy-efficient and will meet the needs of the future of mobility.

Connected Car

Motor Vehicle Insurance and the Connected Car

Dr. Tibor Pataki looks at the ownership of data in the connected car market, and the impact of automated systems on vehicle insurance.

Feature E-Mobility

Sustainable Digitalization in the Smart City

Harald A. Summa, CEO of the eco Association, explores the benefits of the Smart City and Mobility for solving the problems of increasing urbanization.

IT Law

Smart Data, Artificial Intelligence, and Law

What does the use of AI and the sharing of data along value chains mean for liability, accountability and data protection? The Fieldfisher technology law experts Oliver Süme and Nils Töllner outline the legal framework for robotics, AI and data analytics.

Feature Digital Ethics

Working with AI - Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in a Digitalized Working World

Lucia Falkenberg, CPO of the eco Association, on working with AI & Corporate Social Responsibility, valuing the work of humans, and the need for lifelong learning in a changing working world.

Feature Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence in Support of Humans – Transparency, Trust, & Decision-Making

Prof. Norbert Pohlmann, on the need for transparency in algorithms, and keeping the human being in the decision-making loop in the development of AI systems.

Artificial Intelligence

Applying and Perfecting AI Applications for Industrial Use Cases

Henrik Oppermann from USU on AI in the mechanical service industry, companies sharing data and cooperating, and how AI can support humans without replacing them.

Networks

AI for Network Infrastructure

Dr. Thomas King, CTO of DE-CIX, gives an overview of the company’s first forays into artificial intelligence solutions for maintaining high-quality interconnection services.

Feature Artificial Intelligence

AI: Changing the Game for Good - doteditorial

Andreas Weiss from the eco Association allays fears about artificial intelligence, and looks at how AI can be used to the benefit of society and how it can help overcome future challenges.

Cyber Security

Targeted Phishing Emails to Train IT Security Awareness

It used to be thought that IT security could be solved purely with technical solutions, but now it seems that the human element has become much more important. dotmagazine spoke to David Kelm, CEO of IT-Seal, to find out how they use machine learning as a means to train staff in secure online behavior.

Feature Cyber Security

Security Risk Analysis and AI Support

Sebastian Kurowski from the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering looks at how artificial intelligence can be used to optimize IT security risk analysis in companies, offering relevant support for ITR specialists and for strategic decision-making.

Feature Industrial IoT

Using Artificial Intelligence to Create a Service Ecosystem for Technical Service in the Age of Industry 4.0

AI has the potential to offer support to small and medium-sized enterprises in their efforts to remain competitive in an increasingly complex global marketplace, Andreas Weiss explains.

Artificial Intelligence

How A Paper Mill Was Turned Into a Green AI-Optimized Data Center Ecosystem

A brief history of the City of Kajaani and its journey to becoming the leading European HPC ecosystem - and an engine of AI - by combining bold regional development, higher education, readily available infrastructure, the right operators, and a winning mindset.

Feature Domains

Sparking a Solution to Online Identities with the Single Sign-On ID4me

eco’s Lars Steffen speaks to Andreas Gauger and Alexander Schwertner from ID4me on getting the hosting industry involved in growing the open, federated single sign-on from ID4me to solve the online identity and password problem.

Feature Data Protection & Privacy

EU-US Privacy Shield from the US Perspective

David Snead, Co-Founder, Board Member & Policy Working Group Chair of the i2Coalition, offers insight into how European data protection is perceived on the other side of the Atlantic, and gives an update on the implementation of the EU-US Privacy Shield.

Feature Data Protection & Privacy

EU-US Privacy Shield from the European Perspective

The EU/US Privacy Shield, one of the most important instruments for legally compliant data transfer between the EU and the US, is being challenged in the EU. dotmagazine spoke to Oliver Süme, Partner at Fieldfisher and Chair of the eco Association, about the European perspective, the importance of the agreement, and the current challenges to transatlantic data flows.

Blockchain

When Does a Company Blockchain Project Make Sense?

Beyond the hype: Not every project will be better with a blockchain, and every blockchain project will need to be individually conceived. Yannik Heinze from Chainsulting explains the pros and cons and favorable conditions for company blockchain projects.

Feature Company Security

IT Security: People Still Don’t Seem to Realize that the Threats Affect Them

The eco Association has just published its annual IT security study. Oliver Dehning, CEO of HornetSecurity and Leader of the eco Competence Group Security, offers his perspective on the results.

Blockchain

The Tricky Task of Separating the Legitimate from the Illegal Use of Crypto Mining

Used transparently, crypto mining can offer website owners a new source of revenues aside from online advertising. Ralf Benzmueller from GDATA, one of the authors of the new eco Association whitepaper on the legitimate use of crypto mining, gives an overview of the potential of crypto mining.

Digital Infrastructure

Cyber-Resilience – A Major Challenge for the 21st Century

Our dependence on the digital world requires a behavioral change to increase not only security, but also resilience through anticipating threats. Yves Reding from EBRC explains the concept of “cyber-resilience” and its impact on business continuity.

Feature Security

Cybersecurity & Data Protection – Public Security & Individual Freedom: doteditorial

For society to accept and use IT technologies and services, they must be secure and trustworthy. Prof. Norbert Pohlmann, Board Member for IT Security at eco Association, explores the balancing of state, community, and individual needs for cyber protection.

Feature Cyber Security

How Far Should the State Be Allowed to Go for the Purposes of Digital Security?

Klaus Landefeld on responsibility for IT security and how combatting crime has paradoxically become one of the greatest threats to security in cyber space.

Feature Data Protection & Privacy

Data Protection and Blockchain

Data protection plays a major role in many blockchain-based project ideas, and presents issues which are not always easy to resolve, as Stephan Zimprich, Leader of the eco Competence Group Blockchain, explains.

Domains

Abuse Management for Domain Names

Katrin Ohlmer from DOTZON looks at how domain owners can monitor and prevent abuse of their domain name to protect themselves and their customers.

Blockchain

The Need for Naming Conventions on the Blockchain

Blockchains have not yet developed a unified naming convention, and it’s time they did, argues Christa Taylor from Minds + Machines.

Feature Blockchain

How Blockchain Can Help Make Email Better

Patrick Ben Koetter from the eco Association explores blockchain solutions for email and the need to bring the whole email ecosystem to the table.

Data Protection & Privacy

The Fairy Tale of Transparent Data Protection

Particularly in times of data theft, the GDPR, and increasing digitalization, data protection is becoming more and more important for society at large. Yannick Schneeweiss from Hornetsecurity looks at how to increase the level of data protection of online services without making them too complicated for the user.

ePrivacy

ePrivacy, Killing Cookies & Single Sign-On

Jan Oetjen, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the European netID Foundation, talks to Julia Janssen-Holldiek, Director of the CSA, about the end of the cookie era, living without customer data, and advantages for customers and companies of the European netID single sign-on service.

Self-regulation

The eco Complaints Office – Regulated Self-Regulation That Works!

Head of the eco Complaints Office Alexandra Koch-Skiba presents a case study of successful self-regulation of the Internet industry, with the fast and effective removal of illegal online content around the globe.

Digital Education

Internet for Education: Key Considerations for Advancing Sustainable Development

Joyce Dogniez from the Internet Society explains the value of Internet connectivity for education and equality endeavors, and for the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Feature Internet Governance

Digital Fundamental Rights and Internet Governance

Prof. Michael Rotert, Honorary President of the eco Association, asks whether we need to develop a new set of digital fundamental rights, and if so, how this could be achieved.

Digital Ethics

The Best Business Objective for 2019

Vittorio Bertola from Open-Xchange looks at freedom and corporate social responsibility in the context of digitalization, and how Europe needs to respond to the global transformation.

Self-regulation

The Certified Senders Alliance – How Self-Regulation Can Help Increase the Quality of Commercial E-Mails

Julia Janssen-Holldiek, Director of the Certified Senders Alliance, demonstrates how voluntary industry self-regulation can have a profound effect on quality, and bring the community together.

Feature Digital Ethics

Ethics in Digitalization

Henning Lesch from the eco Association explores the need to adapt approaches to regulation in response to the global challenges of digitalization, and the role that self-regulation can play in this transformation.

Internet Governance

The Whois Wars

Thomas Rickert, Leader of the eco Association Names & Numbers Forum, explains ICANN’s work towards a consensus policy for dealing with the data protection issues of the registration data in the public Whois.

Education and Research in the Context of Digital Transformation

To support research into the digital society, the German government-funded Weizenbaum Institute for the Networked Society was founded in September 2017. dotmagazine spoke to the Director of Fraunhofer FOKUS and one of the co-founders of this "German Internet Institute", Prof. Ina Schieferdecker, about both the institute and the broader topic of education in the digital society.

Digital Ethics

Value-Based Management of a Company and Digital Transformation

Sabine Zimmermann from Initiative Digital explains how SMEs can approach digital transformation without relinquishing their core values.

Feature Data Center

Data Center Models and Their Customers

Data centers may be powerhouses of the digital economy, but they come in all shapes and sizes, with different services models, different business models, and different locational advantages. dotmagazine asked Dr. Béla Waldhauser, from the Alliance for Strengthening Digital Infrastructures in Germany, to unravel the complexities and explain what kind of customer business cases are most appropriate for what kind of data center.

Data Center

Frankfurt Data Center Market: Constantly Adapting as the Baseline for Digital Transformation

What makes Frankfurt such a desirable location for data centers? Marc Fröse from Etix Everywhere examines how to make the most of the global epicenter for colocation.

Feature Digital Transformation

Facing and Mastering Digital Transformation

The shock of the new still makes some organizations shy away from facing the challenges of digitalization. Roland Broch from the eco Association looks at how the German Mittelstand and SMEs in general can embrace the potential of digital transformation to compete in the digital economy of the future.

Connectivity

Reach Out – The Internet Exchange is Coming to the Regions

A direct connection to the world's largest Internet Exchange is the basis for many enterprises to achieve the best quality. DE-CIX, the world's largest Internet Exchange operator, and GasLINE, one of the leading fiber-optic network providers in Germany, will create fast direct connections from public utilities and data centers to the DE-CIX sites, providing an expansion for peering into regional areas.

IT Law

Does Competition Law Offer a Proper Toolbox to Tackle the Power of Internet Giants and Platforms?

Dr. Daisy Walzel from DWF looks at the impact of competition law on digital platforms

Feature Internet Governance

IGF 2018 Paris: Why Internet Governance Needs the Voices of Philosophers and Anthropologists

Honorary President of the eco Association Michael Rotert reports on the global discussions of the Internet Governance Forum 2018, how important ethics are for the future of the Internet, and how states need to work together.

Networks

Why Fixed and Mobile Networks are Merging

The promotion of broadband in Germany is enabling us to enter the digital age, with all its opportunities: a smart infrastructure and the transformation of the economy. What role does convergence play in this and what challenges must be overcome?

Connectivity

The Arctic is Growing into the Business Power of the Future

The world is changing, and the Arctic north is becoming more accessible and opening up new business potential. But first, investment in digital and physical infrastructure is needed, explains Ari-Jussi Knaapila from Cinia.

Feature Connectivity

The Economic Potential of Madrid as a Digital Hub

An analysis by Delfos Research, commissioned by Interxion and DE-CIX, reveals that an investment of 500 million Euros in digital infrastructure would create more than 1,800 jobs, inject 6 billion Euros into the local economy, and would allow Madrid to become a competitive digital hub in the face of the growing need for interconnection in Southern Europe. Theresa Bobis explains.

Energy Efficiency

New Toolkit Helps Data Centers Assess their Environmental Impact

The European CATALYST innovation project has launched a toolkit that helps data centers to self-assess their environmental impact, as Robbert Hoeffnagel from Green IT Amsterdam explains.

Security

Privacy by Design in Product Development

Data protection and user privacy have become much more important for the development of digital products. Jutta Horstmann from eyeo explains how companies can implement a Privacy by Design approach in product development, and how this can support rather than hinder innovation.

Feature New Work

Making the Leap to the New Digital Working Culture

Digitalization is fundamentally altering workplaces and can offer employees more humane working conditions and an easier working life. Lucia Falkenberg, CPO of the eco Association, explores the opportunities and challenges of the new digital working culture.

Ethics in Digitalization

Social Business’s Disruptive Potential to Improve the World

Génica Schäfgen from ecosia offers insight into social business, and how an Internet search can fuel the planting of trees.

IoT

Prototyping IoT Products and Services

So you’ve got a brilliant idea for a new IoT product? Sebastian Floss, Managing Director at ImagineOn, explains what’s involved in prototyping it to get it right.

Feature Digital Ecosystem

The Smart Digital Ecosystem

Digital ecosystems are redefining how companies interact and generate value. Andreas Weiss from the eco Association looks at how to become part of a smart ecosystem in order to find your place in the digital economy.

e-Government

Moving the French Administration into the Cloud

Within the space of one year, the French government position around cloud computing totally changed towards building a real Cloud First policy to support the digital transformation of the entirety of state policies. Here is the story of this journey, told by Alban Schmutz, Vice-President of EuroCloud France, who drove this work with the French ecosystem, the administration, and policy makers.

Data Protection & Privacy

Data Protection in Software Development

With the GDPR now in force in the EU, it is now not only a question of ensuring compliance in company processes, but also in the software being used. Dr. Judith Nink from eyeo, on developing data-protection compliant software, and the relationship between data protection and IT security.

Feature Blockchain

The Time is Now: The Need for Government Blockchain

Blockchain technology offers massive potential for state administration. Stephan Zimprich, Leader of the eco Competence Group Blockchain, looks at how this foundational technology could transform e-government.

Cyber Security

Artificial Intelligence in Cyber Security

Nils Kammann, Solutions Architect at Xantaro, on the hype of artificial intelligence in cyber security, an essential delineation of terminology, the challenges we face, and the need and chance for new security models.

Feature Artificial Intelligence

AI, Human Rights, and Algorithmic Transparency

How do AI and automated decision-making co-exist with human rights and self-determination? Michael Rotert from the eco Association provides an overview of the Council of Europe’s deliberations on a topic which presents both potential benefits and ethical challenges for society.

Digital Transformation

Digitalization: The Key Competences SMEs Should Bet On

How can SMEs stand out in the crowd and find their target customer in a changing business environment? Lucie Poisson and Martin Schmidt from 1&1 IONOS investigate.

Company Security

Winning Back Data Control With Smart Web Security

The web landscape has changed drastically over the years, often resulting a loss in the control of data. Kristina Vervoort, Regional Sales Director DACH for Netskope, explains how you can win back this data control with smart web security.

Cyber Security

Prevention, Defense, and Detection: IT Security in Companies

With increasingly sophisticated and personalized attacks on company IT, companies need to develop new ways of dealing with IT security risks. Prevention is no longer enough, according to Nikolei Steinhage from Fidelis.

Feature Company Security

How Much of an IT Security Risk Are You to Your Company?

The best security is only as strong as its worst password and naivest user. Markus Schaffrin from the eco Association explains how important the behavior of staff and management is for company security.

Feature Cyber Security

IT Security: Don’t Try to Make the Impossible Possible

IT security is a major cause for concern for companies, and it is important to ensure a good level of security to protect against hacker attacks and industrial espionage. But should companies aim for perfect security? This is not sensible, Karsten Nohl from Security Research Labs tells dotmagazine.

Company Security

“Phishing” Your Staff to Raise Security Awareness

Do you want to improve IT security in your company? The number one task is to train your staff in security awareness on a regular basis, according to Dr. Niklas Hellemann from SoSafe Cyber Security Awareness.

Networks

Secure SD-WAN – Helping CIOs Meet their Goals

Is it possible for CIOs to both reduce costs and increase agility, and at the same time ensure security and compliance? Yes, says Jack Miller, CISO at Open Systems.

Feature Internet Governance

Having a Voice as a Stakeholder in the Internet

Helping to define the digital world of the future: Michael Rotert, Honorary President of the eco Association, explains how each of us can have a voice in global Internet governance discussions.

Data Center

Making the Right Decision for Your Data Center Strategy: 4 Approaches to Financing Your Company IT Infrastructure

What best suits your company needs and budget for your IT infrastructure? Marc Fröse from Etix Everywhere looks at the alternatives.

Cloud Computing

Freedom and Control of Data in the Multi-Cloud

Wally MacDermid, VP Cloud Business Development at Scality, on how companies can manage their multiple cloud services, avoid lock-in, and maintain data protection compliance.

Feature Digital Communication

Manage Presence and Achieve More

How presence management makes it possible to work more elegantly in a simple way - Detlev Artelt from aixvox offers advice to companies for the successful transition to new modes of working and managing.

The Future Email Experience

Email has been around a long time now, but it’s still got a lot of life left in it. Marcel Becker from Oath explains how email will evolve in the future.

Digital Transformation

Surfing the Digital Wave to Success

B2B businesses are also developing new business models. But successfully surfing the second digital wave requires sustainable and responsible information management, writes Jos Bischoff from BCT.

Content Management System

Content Management in the Cloud – How to Get Out of the Scaling Trap

Marketers want their campaigns to “go viral.” But what happens when they actually do? Will your CMS withstand a run on your website? Markus Krenn from Arvato Systems elaborates.

Online Marketing

Digital Transformation in Customer Communication: Win-Win Situations for Customers and Brands

Digital transformation successfully applied to customer communication can become a marketing differentiation factor and a crucial part of the brand experience, Lucie Poisson from 1&1 IONOS explains.

Email Marketing

The Power of Email for Brands

Email is far from dead: It is an essential tool for brands and has evolved into a strong link in the customer journey, according to Christian Hanke from Edenspiekermann.

Network Security & Safety

Improving the Security and Resilience of the Internet through MANRS

MANRS brings together network operators, ISPs, and IXPs to improve routing hygiene, increasing the security and resilience of the Internet, Christoph Dietzel from DE-CIX explains.

Feature Cyber Security

Shouldering Responsibility for IT Security – A Multi-Stakeholder Approach

IT security is the mutual responsibility of all stakeholders, from civil society to industry and government, says Prof. Norbert Pohlmann

Email Marketing

BIMI – Controlling Brand Image Online

BIMI – or Branded Indicators for Message Identification – is an industry standardization effort that brands and Email Service Providers will love, according to Thede Loder, from the Authindicators Working Group.

Self-regulation

The Economics of Trust in Digital Services

Trust is emerging as a crucial factor for the success of Internet service providers and is challenging the established economics of digital services, writes Rafael Laguna from Open-Xchange.

Data Center

3 Reasons Why Open Source is the Future of Data Center Hardware

The Open Compute Project (OCP) brings together hundreds of companies – vendors, system integrators, and users – to come up with the smart innovations that a modern data center needs, Robbert Hoeffnagel explains.

Data Protection & Privacy

Data Sovereignty: Does the Use of My Data Always Require My Consent?

Martin Przewloka of msg Group explores data ownership, data sovereignty, and issues with consent and anonymization of personal data.

Feature Online Marketing

Immunizing Email Marketing Against Brand Impersonation

Prevention is better than cure: DMARC offers protection against phishing attacks, saving brands from the headache and cost of reputation damage, as Julia-Janssen Holldiek, Director of the Certified Senders Alliance, explains.

Identity Management

ID4me – An Open, Global, Federated Standard for Digital Identity Management

There is clearly a strong need for a universal digital identity – and the public, open, privacy-friendly ID4me protocol offers just the solution, as Katja Speck explains.

Feature Notice & Takedown

Take-Down and Terms of Service – The Keys to Self-Regulating Online Content

Alexandra Koch-Skiba, Head of the eco Complaints Office, on how self-regulation is not just the best way for swiftly removing illegal content from the Internet, but can also help to prevent it from getting up there in the first place.

Feature Internet Governance

Does Self-Regulation Empower Industry?

Michael Rotert explores the variety of measures for governing the global Internet – and how laws can’t keep up with technological development

Domains

The Web Alienates Non-English Speakers — And We Need to Change That

The Internet does not work the same for everyone, depending on which domain name or language they use. Universal Acceptance seeks to remedy this.

Cyber Security

Securing Smart Contracts

Smart contracts, based on blockchain technology, are software programs that offer a very secure and transparent way of documenting and automating business processes. But as software programs, they are not immune to security vulnerabilities, as Professor Alexandra Dmitrienko explains.

e-Government

E-Government on Blockchain: About Obstacles and Chances

Public administration offers and requires the same properties as blockchain: transparency, trust, and immutability. But does this predestine blockchain to be suitable for all e-government processes? Volker Skwarek explores potential use cases.

Feature e-ID

Blockchain for Securing Digital Identities

With more and more people and IoT devices connecting to the Internet, solutions are needed to authenticate unique digital identities. The eco Association looks at ways to alleviate the digital identity crisis and to offer users a secure online ID on the basis of blockchain.

e-Government

Government Blockchain Infrastructure – A Chance for Europe

Blockchain offers governments the opportunity to revolutionize their handling of citizen data and the allocation of rights in secure e-government scenarios. Dieter Rehfeld argues for the development of a European public-sector blockchain infrastructure, establishing Europe as a leader in the area, and giving data control back to citizens.

Feature e-Government

Creating Trustworthy E-Government Services with Blockchain

Digitalizing government services requires the entire process of storing and handling the data of citizens to be revolutionized. Taavi Kotka, former Chief Information Officer of the Estonian Government, explains the value of e-government services to a country, and how blockchain helps to overcome the hurdles to transformation.

Feature Cyber Security

Trust & Security in the Blockchain

The early use cases for blockchain technology centered around cryptocurrencies. But the same processes that secure Bitcoin and friends can also be used for securing other forms of data, for example in administration. So, what is it that makes blockchain so secure? Professor Norbert Pohlmann, from the eco Association, explains.

Blockchain

Blockchain for Education: Lifelong Learning Passport

How blockchain can be used for educational qualifications to provide a guarantee of authenticity for digital certificates. An illustration based on the Blockchain for Education platform.

Feature Data Protection & Privacy

The Proposed EU E-Privacy Regulation

Electronic Communications, Technological Neutrality, and Consent for Cookies: Hot on the heels of the GDPR, the European Union is working towards a sister regulation, the ePrivacy Regulation. In this video interview, Oliver Süme, Chair of the eco Association, explains the current status of the legislation and what companies need to be prepared for.

Blockchain

Blockchain Technology: A Must for Modern and Forward-Looking IT

Martin Przewloka, CDO of msg group automotive, explains how blockchain can be utilized in marketable products, and how companies can develop prototypes.

Cyber Security

New Frontiers for Car Security: API Management

When it comes to driverless cars, most of the talk is about high-precision sensors and AI. But a host of other enabling IT services bring their own risks. Marco Comastri of CA Technologies argues for the need for a paradigm shift among OEMs: one that would make cyber and network security as much of a core competence as engine control, airbags, or brakes.

Connectivity

The Car as Connected Platform — Connecting Stakeholders in the Automotive Industry

The future of the car and innovative mobility solutions relies on interconnection platforms which can bring together diverse ecosystems. A look at the centrality of connectivity to the evolution of the connected car.

Feature Cyber Security

Connected Car Security

The potential for the connected car to improve safety on the road is immense, but its ability to do so also depends on the IT security built into the system. dotmagazine spoke to IT security specialist and Member of the Board at the eco Association, Professor Norbert Pohlmann, about the challenges of securing connected cars.

Blockchain

Blockchain-based Solutions and IT/Cyber Security for Autonomous Driving – Legal Barriers

The great complexity of the technical processes used in connected and autonomous cars leads to complex legal requirements. Two attorneys-at-law from DWF Germany, Klaus M. Brisch and Marco Müller-ter Jung, explore the raft of associated implications – spanning contract and liability issues to issues of IT and data security – and conclude that legal innovations at European level might enhance further technical progress.

Feature Connectivity

Building the Infrastructure for the Future Driving Experience

Realizing the vision of the connected and self-driving car of the future will require significant advances in connectivity, and the IoT will need to be built into the landscape to provide a seamless user experience. Klaus Landefeld, Vice-Chair of the Board at the eco Association, on the intelligent highway.

Digital Infrastructure

The Car as a Driver for Data Growth Needing New Infrastructure Solutions

What does the “data footprint” of a modern car look like? Frank Zachmann from Innovit360 explains how to manage the masses of data generated by the modern car at the modular edge of the Internet.

New Work

Mobility Thought Differently – Pure Fiction?

Martin Przewloka, from msg systems, introduces a new intelligent way to take the stress out of the daily commute, giving workers more freedom, flexibility and time.

Feature Smart City

Urban mobility – Parking and Car Sharing in Tomorrow’s Cities

How can we solve the increasing congestion and pollution in cities caused by traffic? Thomas Frohn from VDI Wissensforum looks at how data is used to optimize automotive offers.

Energy Efficiency

A Delphi-Based Estimation of Several Ecological Utility Values of Internet Applications

How video conferencing and telecommuting can help to reduce the ecological footprint of companies. Prof. Georg Rainer Hofmann & Meike Schumacher from the Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences explain.

eco News

What's New in eco June 2018

News from the eco Association

DDoS

Two Sides of DDoS Attacks: The Largest Attack of All Time and Focus on SMEs

Even though we recently experienced the largest DDoS attack of all time: With Denial-of-Service attacks, it is no longer just a question of bringing down the websites and online shops of large companies. Now, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) also need protection, according to Niko Bender from PlusServer.

Digital Transformation

Accessing Your Data Dividend

The growing value of data to businesses and economies is undeniable. A first of its kind report helps to understand the impact that data adds to the economy and the additional value businesses can unlock, as Rob Coupland from Digital Realty explains.

Data Center

OSDA – a New Approach for the Sustainability of Data Centers

The exponential growth in data collection and processing has been accompanied by a colossal use of energy. Lex Coors of Interxion describes a new standard that helps data centers to strike a balance between the principles of availability and sustainability.

GDPR

Data Audits – the Key to GDPR Compliance

Data audits deliver key insight into what a company and its employees are doing in the cloud. Kristina Vervoort, Regional Sales Director for the DACH Region at Netskope, explains exactly how these data audits help a company determine whether their cloud services are GDPR-compliant or not.

Feature GDPR

No Need to Fear the GDPR

A recent representative survey of 600 marketing decision-makers shows that implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation – in force from May 25 2018 – is still a work in progress.

Green IT

Green Efficiency

How Europe's leading hyperscale cloud provider, OVH, uses climate-friendly techniques to cool its servers – good for the environment and the pocket, as Dr Jens Zeyer from OVH Germany explains.

eco News

What’s New in eco May 2018

News from the eco Association

Cyber Security

Security and E-Health: Between Privacy and Beneficial Innovation

Maik Morgenstern, CTO at AV-Test, offers advice on what to look for in e-health gadgets and services in order to benefit from innovations without giving away too much sensitive data.

Digital Infrastructure

IoT – Innovations, Obstacles & Trends

Frank Zachmann from innovIT360 explains the infrastructure challenges for developing the innovative power of the Internet of Things and offers a solution for the future of digital infrastructure.

Cyber Security

Whatever, put a chip in it

The careless days in IoT are numbered: Sebastian Floss explores the value of Security by Design for IoT devices, and offers 4 simple rules to get started.

Digital Infrastructure

Infrastructure for the Evolution of the City

Spencer Hinzen from Ruckus, on the need for connectivity infrastructure in order for cities to evolve into the smart cities they want to become.

Feature Industrial IoT

Internet Access is the Key to Sustainable Development

Internet infrastructure is contributing to the achievement of the United Nations’ global development goals: Alexander Rabe, Managing Director of the eco Association, on how IoT improves water supply and makes agriculture more efficient.

Feature IoT

Smart Service Power: A Case Study on Building a Successful IoT Aged Care Service

IoT offers great potential to transform society for the better, but where do you start? Bettina Horster from VIVAI Software illustrates the steps taken to develop a new IoT-supported solution for aged care.

Digital Infrastructure

Industrial Internet of Things: How the Right Infrastructure Boosts Growth and Innovation

Donald Badoux, Managing Director of Equinix Germany, on how the right IoT Infrastructure can help companies fully monetize previously unavailable or inaccessible enterprise- and machine-generated data in the industrial Internet of Things.

Feature Email Marketing

Transactional Email: Missing in Action?

The power of transactional emails as direct customer communication is often overlooked by companies in favor of marketing emails. Julia Janssen-Holldiek, Director of the CSA, explores their importance and offers advice on getting them delivered.

Email Marketing

Take Care of Your Business – and Let an ESP Take Care of Your Emails

Emailing may be a basic tool for your marketing and customer communications, but is it your core business? Magnus Eén from Westwing describes how online companies can find their balance between in-house and outsourced expertise.

Feature Email Best Practices

Unsubscribe with Just One Click – Happy Cat, Happy Customer

How One-Click protects the reputation of bulk mailers and prevents accidental unsubscription.

Branding

How Your Branding Enlivens Your Online Presence

Branding is about more than just using a name, displaying a logo, or quoting a slogan, as Lucie Poisson explains. It may even help you to redefine your overall strategy.

dotBrands

What dotBrands Can Do for Companies

dotBrands use their brand names to the right side of the dot in an Internet address. In this way, .brands work exactly like long-standing top-level domains such as .com or .de – but simultaneously open up a large number of new possibilities. Not only do dotBrands have a complete universe of Internet addresses open to them; they can also innovate new business models, expand their distribution channels, and align their online marketing activities. But how many dotBrands are there at present? And how exactly do companies benefit from their own top-level domain?

Brand Protection

Protecting Brands Online Through Domain Names

How valuable is a domain name to a brand? Very, says Martin Kuechenthal, CEO of LEMARIT – companies need to establish, monitor, and protect their brand names, through domain names, in cyber space.

Social Media

Doing Business in Germany: Knowing Your Social Media Channels

Social media in Germany may not be tapped into as regularly as in other markets. Therefore, companies should know their platforms and their target audiences and, most importantly, know how to address them.

Online Marketing

The Pros and Cons of Ad Blocking - Finding the Balance

dotmagazine interviews stakeholders from both sides of the ad blocking debate – Christian Bennefeld from eBlocker and Joerg Muehle from the publisher Heise Medien – to look at how the best interests of users can be served in online advertising.

Digital Education

Smart Campus – Merging Smart City and Smart Home in Education for Digital Natives

What makes a university or college fit for the digital millennium? Rich Nedwich from Ruckus explains to dotmagazine the concept of a Smart Campus.

Feature Digital Education

Building a Digital Future Through Education

For the successful transition to a full digital economy, there need to be changes in the way young people are educated and prepared for the challenges of a rapidly changing working environment. dotmagazine talked to Alexander Rabe, Managing Director of the eco Association, about how education needs to be transformed.

Digital Education

The Cloud as Foundation for Digital Education

How cloud platforms and services can support the implementation of digital curricula in schools, and why this is needed for a country to remain competitive in the future. Andreas Weiss from EuroCloud explains.

Digital Education

Bringing Education and Work into the 21st Century

How education and employment policies need to be updated for a digital society. Lucia Falkenberg, CPO of the eco Association, explores the needs from a German perspective.

2018 Outlook

Digital Infrastructure – The Unsung Hero

Digital infrastructure, like data centers, networks, and the domain name system, is the unseen enabler of modern digital life and business. A look at how the eco Association is working to raise digital infrastructure to center stage in 2018.

Feature Digital Education

Some Examples of How ICT Can Help Us Solve Our Global Issues

The United Nations has defined 17 “Sustainable Development Goals”, SDGs. They range from ending poverty to solving our energy issues to ensuring that education is available for all. Technology can help us reach some of these goals. Here is how.

Feature 2018 Outlook

The Internet Industry in the Wake of the GDPR

How will the forthcoming GDPR affect the different areas of the Internet industry and digital business? dotmagazine takes a brief look at how different segments of the Internet industry will be affected, and how the eco Association is working to support members as we near the end of the implementation period.

Recruitment

How Recruitment Automation Can Boost Your HR Performance

How can you run an HR marketing campaign that is tailor-made to your needs as a recruiter? According to Jan Kirchner of Wollmilchsau, the secret lies in automating processes and combining these with Artificial Intelligence. Together, these two factors lead to considerable time savings and optimized outcomes.

Feature Recruitment

Workforce Diversity Driving Company Performance, Innovation, and Profitability

What is the economic value of gender and racial diversity in tech companies? Elisabeth Kurek, Leader of the Gender Diversity & Equity Initiative in the i2Coalition, provides important insights for companies and HR managers into how diversity and a welcoming company climate can attract and retain top talent and increase performance.

Recruitment

Attracting and Keeping Great Talent in an Employee’s Market

The War for Talents is being felt keenly in the IT sector and in IT-related jobs, certainly in Germany. Peer Bieber from Arbeitgebergold offers companies advice on navigating the route to finding and keeping top employees.

Feature Unified Communications

Bricks, Bytes, & Behavior: The Space, Tools, and Culture of New Work

How people, technology, and space interact to create a productive workforce – Detlev Artelt from aixvox offers advice to companies for the successful transition to new modes of working and managing.

Unified Communications

The Rise of Cloud-Based Unified Communications & Collaboration

There’s no doubt that the concept of cloud is becoming more popular with businesses large and small, but there is still a huge amount of misinformation about the different types of cloud and their compatibility for individual organizations. So what exactly are the options when it comes to cloud-based UC and how do you know what’s right for different customers?

Feature Company Security

Why IT Security is Like Shopping for Christmas

There are three striking similarities between IT security and shopping for Christmas. Most of us have too much stuff to begin with. Also, there is too much theatre involved. And finally, socks. You can enjoy a holiday season without worries if you keep these things in mind.

Feature Data Center

Finding Specialist Staff to Power Data Center Growth

Demand is growing worldwide so fast that data centers can’t be built and staffed fast enough. Dr. Béla Waldhauser from KDDI Deutschland explains the challenges and provides a perspective for the future of data center operations.

Feature Risk Assessment

Understanding and Mitigating Risks to Data Center Operation

Given the strategic value of data centers to digital transformation, it is important for data center operators to have a very clear view of the risks they face – ranging from DDoS to the GDPR – according to Gerd Simon, Independent Consultant and Lead Auditor for the eco Datacenter Star Audit.

Email Best Practices

The Consent Given on Occasion of the Sending of Email Advertising Expires in the Course of Time

Media law expert Florian Daniel from DWF Germany looks at how the context of consent for advertising emails can lose relevancy and validity over time.