Continuation of the Cyber Security District Tour
Since its opening in early 2023, the House of Digitalization has established itself as a central hub for digital transformation in Lower Austria. In addition to the current exhibition "SMART DATA + YOU" and numerous initiatives that highlight the opportunities of digitalization, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), there is a strong focus on cybersecurity.
As digitalisation increases, so do the risks posed by cybercrime. "Information, education, and assistance are particularly important here, and therefore, the 'House of Digitalization' and the Federal Ministry of the Interior have been cooperating in the area of awareness-raising and prevention since 2023. The core of this partnership is the cybersecurity district tour, with which we were able to inform 1,470 participants about the dangers of the digital world last year. Due to its great success, we have now agreed with the Ministry of the Interior to continue the successful district tour in the coming years," explains Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner.
"I am grateful to Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner and her team that the successful cooperation between the Federal Ministry of the Interior and the House of Digitalization in the area of cyber prevention will continue next year. Along with extremism and combating human trafficking, cybercrime is one of the major challenges facing the police – and prevention and education make a significant contribution to protecting people from these new forms of crime. Thanks also go to our partners, the Lower Austrian Chamber of Commerce, the Lower Austrian IV (Industrial Association of Private Personnel), the Lower Austrian, KSÖ (National Association of Private Personnel), and the Directorate of Education," said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, pleased with the continuation of the cooperation.
Other partners in the district tour are the Lower Austrian Chamber of Commerce, the Lower Austrian IV (Industrial Association of Private Personnel), the Competence Center for Secure Austria (KSÖ), and the Microsoft Austria initiative "Make Today Possible." The next tour will take place on October 17 in Mödling. So far, the 2024 tour has reached around 500 participants.
District tour until 2026
Events are planned for 2025 in the districts of Korneuburg, Horn, Lilienfeld, Neunkirchen, and Gänserndorf. In 2026, the tour will continue in the remaining districts of Bruck an der Leitha, Waidhofen an der Thaya, Melk, Gmünd, and Waidhofen an der Ybbs. This means that by the end of 2026, the district tour will have reached all 24 districts and statutory cities of Lower Austria.
The target groups of the district tour continue to be the education sector, administration, and business. The roadshow will stop at schools in the morning, at the regional district administration offices at lunchtime, and at the regional chambers of commerce in the evening. The goal of the events is to raise awareness of cyber threats, strengthen networks, and promote preventive measures.
The focus of the tour will continue to be the presentation by Minister-General Martin Merka, Head of the Prevention Department in the Network and Information Systems Security (NIS) Department of the Federal Ministry of the Interior. His presentations provide insights into technical and organizational measures for strengthening cybersecurity in everyday work and school life. Martin Merka provides practical recommendations for action to promote safe use in the connected world.
New offering planned: Safety and prevention in the use of new media for parents and teachers starting in 2025
Inspired by the positive feedback from the roadshow's school visits, a training course on cyberbullying prevention and online risks for parents and teachers is planned for 2025. In collaboration with the Education Directorate, the "House of Digitalization" offers these specialized training courses to promote responsible use of social media.