As FACC was affected by a fraud case of social engineering in 2015, additional extensive precautions were taken in the following years to protect the company. Almost eight years later, FACC now ranks among the companies with the highest security standards and certifications in Austria thanks to a comprehensive package of measures. This Monday, the company received the ALC Cybersecurity Award at the Vienna Imperial Palace. The award was accepted by CEO Robert Machtlinger and Alexander Hochmeier, VP IT & Security.
“Security calls for the highest standards. Receiving the Cybersecurity Award confirms that our extensive efforts over the last few years are paying off. Even if you can never guarantee security to 100 %, it is reassuring for us and our customers to know that we can count ourselves among the best companies in Austria in the field of cybersecurity. My special thanks go to the entire IT and Security team at FACC, who have accomplished a great deal in this area over the past few years,” comments CEO Robert Machtlinger proudly.
Cybersecurity: a team achievement at all levels
Social engineering poses one of the greatest threats of our time. To ensure that FACC is adequately equipped to tackle this, the company has been increasingly focusing on raising awareness among its employees for a number of years. However, this alone is not sufficient: “What it takes is to establish and continuously further develop a security network across all levels – organizationally, procedurally and technically. You must never stand still,” says Alexander Hochmeier, VP IT & Security at FACC.
FACC's IT & Security crew is supported by outstanding Austrian security partners and leading international technology partners. “Security is a team effort, and FACC strives to respond to the latest developments using state-of-the-art technologies,” explains Martin Pils, CISO of FACC. Continuous and targeted change is key in this regard. Regular external audits, such as the cyber risk rating, help FACC identify where there is still room for improvement. AI-based systems are also playing an increasingly important role here.
One of the biggest challenges is the shortage of skilled workers, which FACC is countering with comprehensive measures. From regional school partnerships in the Innviertel region to cybersecurity projects with highly talented students at the Secondary Technical College (HTL) Spengergasse in Vienna - FACC is counting on the young generation. In-house training also plays a key role. With the support of its IT & Security professionals, FACC trains apprentices and transforms keen lateral recruits and newcomers into real specialists.
Dynamic development
The challenges in the field of IT & Security are enormous due to ever new threats. FACC will therefore continue to focus on expanding and strengthening its expertise in the field of cybersecurity, and sees the award it has received as an incentive to remain one of the leading companies in this area in the future.