What is the BSI and what role does it play in information security?

The BSI (Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik) is Germany's federal cyber security authority and the publisher of the IT-Grundschutz standards.

The Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik (Federal Office for Information Security):

• Founded: 1 January 1991
• Seat: Bonn, Germany
• Customers: federal administration, industry, academia, and citizens

The BSI develops and maintains the BSI standards (200-x series) and the IT-Grundschutz-Kompendium, runs certification schemes ("ISO 27001 based on IT-Grundschutz"), issues security advisories, and provides free training material such as the online IT-Grundschutz course.

It is roughly Germany's counterpart to agencies like the US CISA or the UK NCSC — but unusual in that it also publishes a complete, freely available security management methodology.

Go deeper:

• IT-Grundschutz – das BSI-Portal — Direkt vom Herausgeber: die Rolle des BSI als Quelle der Grundschutz-Methodik und -Standards.