it-sa 2024 in Nuremberg once again proved why it is one of the leading trade fairs for IT security in Europe. It was a special premiere for TEAL: together with our partner FB Pro GmbH, we were not only represented there as an exhibitor for the first time, but were also able to offer real added value for the 40 or so participants with our workshop “Maximized resilience through system hardening, risk-based measures and training”. In this blog article, we take a brief look back at our trade fair highlights, in particular the workshop.

Workshop highlight: System hardening and Active Directory hardening as the basis for resilient IT systems

Our workshop, with experts Fabian Böhm (Co-Managing Director of TEAL) and Florian Bröder (Managing Director of FB Pro GmbH), focused on practice-oriented IT security. With around 40 participants, the workshop was as well attended as we had hoped and offered not only theoretical insights, but also tangible solutions for the challenges of modern IT security strategies.

The central topics of the workshop included:

• • System hardening as the key to resilience: Hardening IT systems (servers, clients) is an essential step in counteracting attacks preventively. We have shown how common security frameworks such as CIS, BSI or the Microsoft Security Baselines not only create regulatory compliance (DORA, NIS2, KRITIS and ISO27001), but also represent a first step towards a zero-trust model. With automated processes and traceable documentation, system hardening becomes a sustainable security measure.

• • Risk-based approach and knowledge building: A forward-looking IT security approach requires a risk-based perspective. Especially when hardening Active Directory or Entra, prioritization and impact assessment through a recurring risk analysis process is essential. We explained how targeted measures can prevent total loss of identity systems and create effective security solutions in the long term. Our proven security assessment, which includes a risk analysis and roadmap development, serves as a starting point.

• • Sustainability through the TEAL Health Check: Safety measures are only effective if they are continuously reviewed and adapted, and regular activities are carried out With the TEAL Health Check, we offer a solution to ensure the effectiveness of measures, even after Teal has left the project. In the end, YOU have to be able to do it on your own 😊

The feedback from the workshop participants was consistently positive. Many praised the practical approach and the sound recommendations, as well as the humor and synergy between the two experts Fabian & Florian. The combination of theoretical knowledge and practical examples made the workshop a varied trade fair experience. There was also a small challenge, a quiz, where you could put the knowledge you gained in the workshop to the test and win a drone.

Further resources: Webinar on system hardening

For all those who were unable to attend it-sa but would like to learn more about system hardening, we recommend our free webinar: “Protect instead of react – why system hardening is the first step towards securing your IT”. In this webinar, we will expand on the content covered in the workshop and also offer the opportunity to clarify any unanswered questions. Register now and find out how you can protect your IT systems in the long term: To the Webinar

Exciting discussions and new contacts

Aside from the workshop, it-sa 2024 was also an ideal platform for exchanging ideas with industry experts, customers and partners. We had the opportunity to hold valuable discussions “live and in color” (instead of mostly remotely in everyday working life), deepen existing relationships and make new contacts with trade fair visitors. The variety of topics and impulses showed us once again how important continuous development in IT security is.

Conversations and topics that we particularly remember:

• • Customer discussions about current security projects: Many of our customers reported on ongoing measures for system hardening, Active Directory security and showed great interest in further approaches such as the TEAL Health Check or our Expertise Community.

• • New contacts with industry experts: We were able to exchange ideas with experts from various sectors such as healthcare, industry and public administration, all of whom brought their own IT security challenges and already known ones such as the BSI.

• • Live demo at the stand: As we were unable to cover all the content in great detail in the workshop due to the limited time available, we took the opportunity to present the live demo on system hardening directly at our Interested workshop and trade fair visitors were able to see how hardened and unhardened systems react to realistic attack scenarios and what advantages automated hardening offers.

• • Practical questions from trade fair visitors: Many participants took the opportunity to ask us directly about specific challenges in their IT systems and benefit from our expertise.

• • Interview with our TEAL security expert Robin Nowak: Our colleague Robin was invited to an impromptu interview by an editor at it-sa and was able to give a few insights into our approach.

Competition highlight at our booth

A special attraction at our stand was the competition in which participants had the chance to win a drone (that’s right – not only in the workshop but also at the stand). It was a highlight for us to see how many visitors had fun taking part in our guessing game. Many thanks to everyone who took part and contributed to the great atmosphere! The lucky winner has already received his prize.

Upcoming events

Of course, that’s not all from us ●  ! We are looking forward to the next events and trade fairs we will be attending in 2025. All information and updates can be found at regular intervals on our news page and on LinkedIn. We are looking forward to an exciting next year with many new remote and on-site events!