Claudia Plattner, head of Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security, warned that the nation remains unprepared for large-scale cyberattacks. She conveyed this assessment in an interview with Der Tagesspiegel, emphasizing the urgency of readiness in the face of rising digital threats.
“And we certainly need that readiness now,” she asserted. “We can’t rely on making 16 phone calls to locate critical information or to confirm who has access to what. In a real emergency, quick, reliable channels of communication are essential.”
Plattner explained that a cyber incident severe enough to plunge a major city into darkness would require the country to mobilize every available resource to recover from the crisis. She described the scenario as a national-scale challenge that tests not only technical defenses but also coordination, decision-making, and public resilience across regions and municipalities.
In related remarks, it was noted that the German government has historically engaged in highly sensitive operations to safeguard information. For instance, it has relied on secure, traditional methods to transmit urgent documents when electronic channels present confidentiality concerns. One such practice involved the use of pneumatic mail systems, a legacy technology that remains costly but valued for delivering documents that cannot be sent electronically or by standard courier due to security considerations. A government spokesperson clarified that these documents are typically urgent and require special handling to prevent interception or tampering.
Analysts have discussed the broader implications of such measures, highlighting the tension between modern cybersecurity strategies and the persistence of legacy channels in high-security environments. The conversation underscores the importance of having multiple, resilient modes of communication that can operate under stress, ensuring that critical information continues to flow even when standard digital networks are compromised.
Meanwhile, political leaders continue to navigate the complex security landscape, balancing the need for rapid, decisive action with the safeguards that protect civil liberties and public trust. In recent discourse, the possibility of shifting geopolitical dynamics has been a recurring theme, with attention to how international actors may influence security policies and defense postures. The focus remains on strengthening protective measures, improving rapid-response capabilities, and reinforcing the cyber-defense framework so that Germany can better withstand, deter, and respond to cyber threats in the years ahead.