15.06.2026 | 2 Images

Security outside of business hours: More than half of all government agencies rely on enhanced monitoring of their IT systems

Public administrations are increasingly supplementing their IT security with external expertise
G DATA Cybersicherheit in Zahlen Mehr Professionalität
G DATA Cybersicherheit in Zahlen Mehr Professionalität © G DATA CyberDefense AG

Employees in Germany who work in the public sector were asked: What advantages do you see in having IT security partially supported by external experts?

This press release has:
In Germany, a majority of public administrations (59 percent) now monitor their IT systems even outside regular working hours. This is shown by the representative study “Cybersicherheit in Zahlen” conducted by G DATA CyberDefense, Statista, and brand eins. While respondents are aware of the added value of external support, in practice, cities and municipalities still too rarely consult IT security experts.

Press release Plain text

Public sector employees bear a great deal of responsibility for key aspects of daily life: from water and energy supply to administrative processes and social services. A failure of IT systems has far-reaching consequences. However, there is still room for improvement in the area of IT security within government agencies: 27 percent of respondents state that their agency has its IT systems monitored by external service providers outside of regular working hours. More than one in three public administrations covers round-the-clock security measures through internal on-call staff and shift work. The key challenge here remains that IT operations are not the same as IT security, and effective protection requires specialized expertise. It is not enough to continuously monitor IT systems. What is crucial is correctly interpreting security-related alerts and deriving appropriate actions from them. It is alarming that nearly half of the respondents (46 percent) do not know whether security measures are in place outside of office hours or deny that they are.

“Government agencies, in particular, face the challenge of managing complex threats with limited staff resources”, says Felix Adami, Senior Manager Public Sector DACH G DATA CyberDefense. “External IT security service providers act as direct points of contact, helping organizations remain operational 24/7. Working closely with existing IT teams, they continuously monitor the IT infrastructure, detect threats early on, and can immediately take countermeasures in the event of security incidents.”

External service providers ease the burden on government agencies with IT security expertise
The study’s findings clearly demonstrate the potential that employees see in external support: they cite, above all, increased security (47 percent), access to specialized expertise (41 percent), and much-needed relief for IT teams that are already stretched thin (35 percent). This makes it clear that external expertise provides public administrations with precisely the security reserves that are crucial today in the face of increasing attacks. This ranges from continuous monitoring and rapid response capabilities to specialized expertise that is often difficult to build up internally.

“Cybersicherheit in Zahlen”
“Cybersicherheit in Zahlen” has now been published for the fifth time and is characterized by a high density of information and exceptional methodological depth: More than 5,000 employees in Germany were surveyed as part of a representative online study on cybersecurity in both professional and private contexts. The experts at Statista closely monitored the survey and, thanks to a sample size that far exceeds industry standards, are able to present reliable and valid market research results in the “Cybersicherheit in Zahlen” magazine. In addition, the market researchers have compiled figures, data, and facts from more than 300 statistics into a comprehensive reference work on IT security.
Print page Send link

G DATA CyberDefense AG is a leading German company in the field of IT security. Since 1985, the company based in Bochum has stood for digital security “Made in Germany”.

More than 500 experts protect businesses, public authorities, and private users every day with modular solutions that seamlessly combine software and services:

  • Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR)
  • Endpoint Security for Businesses
  • Security Awareness Training
  • IT security services such as penetration testing, incident response, and forensic analysis

Transparency, data protection, and digital sovereignty are the cornerstones of the company’s security strategy. For this reason, G DATA develops and operates its solutions in Germany. With its no-backdoor guarantee and ISO 27001 certification, the company helps businesses and organizations meet regulatory requirements. In doing so, G DATA lays the foundation for CyberVertrauen and a secure, resilient future.

G DATA. Trust in German Sicherheit.

All contents of this press release as .zip:

Direct download

Release text 3216 Characters

Plain text Copy release text

Images (2)

G DATA Cybersicherheit in Zahlen Mehr Professionalität
G DATA Cybersicherheit in Zahlen Mehr Professionalität
552 x 312 © G DATA CyberDefense AG
Felix Adami, Senior Manager DACH at G DATA CyberDefense.
Felix Adami, Senior Manager DACH at G DATA CyberDefense.
1 080 x 1 350 © G DATA CyberDefense AG

Related

Contact

(1) Vera Haake
Vera Haake
Leitung Unternehmenskommunikation / Head of Corporate Communications

+49 234 9762 - 376
vera.haake@gdata.de