CIE Components in Electronics
TÜV SÜD is continuing the strategic expansion of its digital service portfolio by acquiring Munich-based Uniscon GmbH. Uniscon and its 45 employees offer Sealed Cloud solutions for data processing. By making this acquisition, TÜV SÜD is positioning itself at the core of digital transformation in the role of third-party provider of a reliable and secure platform for handling sensitive data.
“Data availability and trust in data security are key for the functioning and continued growth of the Internet of Things (IoT)”, says Prof. Dr.-Ing. Axel Stepken, chairman of the board of TÜV SÜD AG. “At the same time, companies are increasingly prioritising the protection of their own and their customers’ and suppliers’ data as well as seeking to retain control of the use of these data.” Sealed Cloud solutions combine the advantages of a public cloud with the level of security offered by a private cloud, thereby ensuring protection against data theft and misuse.
USP of Uniscon”s Sealed Cloud
The development of Sealed Cloud solutions has made Uniscon GmbH, established in 2009, a pioneer in this field of technology. “The proprietary technology, patented at international level, enables secure data processing in the cloud. Not even the platform provider can access the unencrypted data which users save and process on its platform”, emphasises Dr Hubert Jäger, chief executive officer (CEO) at Uniscon GmbH. This USP for Uniscon’s cloud solutions has convinced many prestigious customers and business partners, including Deutsche Telekom and PwC as well as leading companies in industry and financial institutes. “With the support of a partner like TÜV SÜD, we will be able to advance this technology still further.”
The acquisition of Uniscon marks another milestone in TÜV SÜD’s digital strategy after the opening of its Center of Excellence (CoE) for Digital Services in Munich April 2017. “Expansion of our core business by adding new business areas is a central element of our strategy”, stresses Dr Dirk Schlesinger, chief digital officer (CDO) at TÜV SÜD. “We are known on the market as a dependable and trusted partner of industry, supplying professional expertise in the fields of safety and security. This reputation also gives us a high level of credibility in our role as operator of a third-party platform, on which clients such as companies from the automotive, real-estate or other sectors can store and process their data.”
Uniscon’s Sealed Cloud solutions also give TÜV SÜD the opportunity to improve its existing business areas and offer new digital products, benefiting customers across various lines of business and sectors of industry. Examples include processing of data from periodic technical inspection of motor vehicles, secure operation of building information modelling systems and processing of data for predictive plant maintenance. In addition, these solutions also support corporate activities for developing the Internet of Things and process applications for Industry 4.0.
From iDGARD to SEALED PLATFORM – secure solutions for a connected economy
Uniscon GmbH became established on the market as a provider of secure cloud solutions in the form of its iDGARD product. It developed SEALED FREEZE with an eye to the new legislation concerning data retention; the product is already in operation at a data centre certified according to ISO 27001 by TÜV SÜD. Together, TÜV SÜD and Uniscon are working on the development of further focus products, including SEALED ANALYTICS for big data analysis in compliance with data protection regulations and SEALED PLATFORM for security-critical applications.
TÜV SÜD’s portfolio of cybersecurity services includes testing and certification according to ISO 27000, IEC 62443 and the security standards of the payment-card industry (PCI-DSS); penetration tests; s@fer shopping certification; provision of data protection consultants; and a cybersecurity check. Further information on this topic can be found on the Internet at www.tuv-sud.com/digital-service.
