Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen (TGFS) has invested in Increase Your Skills GmbH. The Leipzig-based startup has developed a platform specialising in information security, data protection and compliance, offering customers online training courses concerning topics such as the GDPR, social engineering awareness, Wi-Fi security and procedures for data protection violations.

Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen (TGFS) has invested in Increase Your Skills GmbH. The Leipzig-based startup has developed a platform specialising in information security, data protection and compliance, offering customers online training courses concerning topics such as the GDPR, social engineering awareness, Wi-Fi security and procedures for data protection violations.

Almost a year has passed since the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and many European companies still have significant deficits in implementing the minimum legal requirements for handling personal data. These deficits can be a heavy burden for companies, as violations of the GDPR can result in fines of up to 20 million euros or up to four per cent of worldwide annual sales in the previous fiscal year.

In addition to data protection, the issue of cybersecurity is also extremely important. Almost 70 per cent of all cyberattacks on companies are launched through phishing or using social engineering. These attack methods often serve as a gateway for a foreign computer system. Through targeted manipulation, attackers can trick users into giving up financial resources or disclosing confidential information. Just like social engineering, phishing emails can also be used to obtain information. Fake emails or websites, some of which look exactly like the original, can be used to intercept sensitive data from users. Therefore, effective awareness campaigns for employees are of great importance because successfully carried out cyberattacks can lead to extensive financial damage amounting to millions, along with reputational damage.

This is where Increase Your Skills GmbH comes in with a holistic approach. The company’s awareness platform features video recordings, interactive tasks and raises important questions to increase employees' awareness. The results of the courses are comprehensively documented for each company, thus making awareness and compliance processes measurable.

Hannes Hartung, founder and CEO of Increase Your Skills: “We are much more than a pure e-learning platform because we also provide specialised consulting services to companies. We see ourselves as a full-service provider for awareness processes for companies. “

Alexander Witt from TGFS adds: “With Increase Your Skills, we are pleased to support a young and promising company that, with the newly developed platform solution, is taking up the challenge of sustainably reducing the threat potential for companies through cyberattacks and poorly implemented GDPR measures”.

to the TGFS website