IT Security in SMEs
When cyber attacks don't just affect systems - but responsibility, value creation & the future.
We Already Know Your Excuse(s)
- We are too small to be interesting. - Nobody knows our niche. - Why spend money now, nothing has happened yet? -
The German Mittelstand
German SMEs are the backbone of the economy, drivers of innovation and technology leaders. But it is precisely this strength that makes them vulnerable: Know-how, patents and production secrets are now more coveted than ever - by cyber criminals, competitors and state actors.
And reality shows: IT departments are not the only ones with responsibility - security is a matter for the boss.
The NIS-2-Directive also increases the personal liability of management and financial officers. Delegation of responsibility is possible - but liability remains.
"You get what you pay for" - security failures directly affect management. Ransomware is not the only risk. What is often more dangerous is what nobody notices.
Network nodes
worldwide
Customer locations
connected

Network partners
local
years
Experience

Presence in
75+ countries and numerous cities
Why SMEs in Particular Are Moving into Focus
Intellectual property is a key strategic factor for the strength of SMEs - especially for the hidden champions in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, medical technology, sensor technology, software or optics. many SMEs are niche leaders, often with very specific technologies. Without patents, utility models or protected processes, they would quickly be copied in low-wage countries. Intellectual property (IP) creates barriers to entry and enables price premiums. Unlike large corporations, hidden champions work with highly specialized innovations - but very often without dedicated security teams. For attackers, this is a combination of:
| Advantage for attackers | Risk for companies |
|---|---|
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Valuable data, research, procedures
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ESPIONAGE instead of blackmail
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Fewer security personnel & monitoring
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Attacks go unnoticed
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Networked production (OT/IT)
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Silent compromising → Know-how outflow
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High dependency on operational capability
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Standstill = millions lost
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Supply chain interfaces
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a weak partner is enough
|
Securing the SME Sector
We help companies to implement security efficiently & realistically - technically, organizationally & regulatory.
• NIS2 preparation incl. reporting chains, controls, governance
• 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC)
• Managed SIEM, XDR & endpoint protection
• Network segmentation & zero trust architecture
• Incident response playbooks & crisis exercise
Not maximum security at any price -
but security that suits the company.
Volker Diegelmann, Solution Architect at RIEDEL Networks
What Do I Get out of It?
Many attacks are not loud - but quiet and precise.
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OT & IT Grow Together
OT & IT are growing together - and this increases the attack surface
Where machines used to run in isolation, data now flows in real time between production, ERP system, cloud, remote service and IoT devices.
A single vulnerability in OT can be enough to gain access to IT systems or production parameters.
Typical risks we see in medium-sized production environments:
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Unsegmented production networks ("flat networks")
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Legacy systems without a patch strategy
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Remote maintenance without zero trust
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Shadow IT & BYOD in plants and halls
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No monitoring of OT protocols
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Lack of transparency about assets & firmware versions
Many attacks start on a single laptop - but end in production.
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Industrial Espionage
The cyber risk that hardly anyone talks about
Our OOPS reports show:
30%+ of the analyzed security incidents did not pursue a ransom goal - but data outflow.
Unnoticed, inconspicuous, highly professional.Attack Target Remote maintenance is hijacked Access to process parameters CAD/design data exfiltrated Technology advantage is copied ICS controller compromised Production know-how is exported Attacks via supply chain Entry via weaker partner The worst attack is not the one that paralyzes systems
but the one that remains undetected. -
Competitive Advantages
IT security as a management task
The biggest problem is not technology -
but a lack of clarity & accountability.Many SMEs have security tools, but no security strategy.
Firewall, antivirus & backup are important - but without monitoring, playbooks & incident response, protection remains superficial.What is often missing:
🔻24/7 monitoring & alerting
🔻Clear responsibilities & process chains
🔻Forensics, incident response & emergency plans
🔻NIS-2-compliant documentation & reporting deadlines
🔻Management training (not just IT staff)Security is not a product - it's a process.
The Intergalactic Space Amoeba
Many medium-sized companies tend to spend considerable sums of money on advice as to why they should not invest in IT security. It's a bit like paying an astrophysicist to confirm that black holes are just a rumor.
The really amusing - or tragic, depending on your temperament - thing is that even if a hacker ever saw this euphonious reasoning, they would probably just nod politely before getting back to the task at hand, which is to penetrate without a care in the world.
After all, the average attacker cares about whether a company has a well-justified non-investment in security about as much as an intergalactic space amoeba cares whether you've prepared a PowerPoint about its existence. In other words: not at all.
Spotlight: IT Security
Your guide to current and future cyber threats
IT security is essential, but how do you get started effectively as a company? Our white paper provides you with comprehensive knowledge about current cyber threats and shows practical strategies for defense. Find out how you can protect your company from the ever-increasing risks, whether you are in the IT industry or not. Use this white paper to strengthen your security strategy and make informed IT security decisions.
Our Customers and Their Experiences
Experience our innovative solutions in action. Take a look right here or discover more in our detailed case studies!

Technological innovation, flexibility, and scalability
„The partnership with RIEDEL Networks is characterized by technological innovation, flexibility, and scalability, which makes the collaboration at all levels, from management to technical specialists, particularly valuable."

Marcel Kühn, CISO & Teamleade Global IT Infrastruktur at Gedore

A flexible partner for a complex project
"By working with such a professional and flexible partner, many processes were simplified, allowing us to reduce costs. The partnership with RIEDEL Networks, from account management to technical consulting, has repeatedly proven to be extremely valuable for Kyocera Document Solutions Europe."

Thomas Schroeder, Manager IT Operations Management at KYOCERA Document Solutions Europe B.V.

A privileged partnership
"Thanks to RIEDEL Networks, Faller Packaging now has a modern, fully redundant, highly transparent, and highly available SD-WAN network that connects our seven European sites and 1,300 employees. My IT team has found the ideal partner who guarantees flawless network operation."

Tobias Dölder, Head IT-Systems, Faller Packaging

We found the perfect partner
"IT is the backbone of every organization. This is especially true in healthcare, where mistakes can be costly. Riedel has proven to be an excellent partner, and the decision to opt for a managed network was the right one in every respect."

Torsten Emmanuel, Chief Information Officer, ATOS Kliniken

Innovative Communication Solutions with RIEDEL Networks
“With the right partner in business and in life, even the greatest obstacles can be overcome. Riedel has proven to be the right partner, not only in development but also across all supporting processes. The assurance of having a reliable network and a dependable partner is invaluable to me.”

John Steeghs, Senior Manager Team Management and Logistics at TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe GmbH

Our SD-WAN runs perfectly!
“Our SD-WAN is running perfectly, and since switching from our MPLS to Riedel Networks, we haven’t had a single outage. The company negotiated new agreements with our last-mile providers on our behalf and helped us reduce unnecessary telecommunications costs. We are reinvesting these savings in managed services. In other words, we are achieving significantly more with the same level of spending.”

Linus Linder, Head of IT at Müller - Die lila Logistik AG

RIEDEL connects two worlds for us: broadcast and IT.
“When it comes to transmitting a world-class event like Formula 1, a strong and reliable partnership is absolutely essential. We have been working with RIEDEL's RiLink for many years. As soon as the fiber-optic cable is connected to our production unit, all systems come to life, immediately connect to their hosts, and begin sending files or messages.”
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Friedrich Behringer, Technical Operations Manager, RTL NEWS