OWASP (Open WEb Application Security Project)

OWASP is a worldwide free and open community focused on improving the security of application software. Their mission is to make application security "visible," so that people and organizations can make informed decisions about application security risks. OWASP develops tools and best practices to support developers or project managers in the development and operation of secure web applications. The OWASP chapters program helps to foster local discussion of application security around the world. The German chapter e.g. issued in March 2008 the Best Practice Guide "Use of Web Application Firewalls". Alexander Meisel, CTO of art of defence, was one of the writers, CEO George Hess is a leader of the German chapter.

BITKOM

BITKOM is the voice of the information technology, telecommunications, and new media industry in Germany. BITKOM represents more than 1,200 companies, with 900 direct members, including practically all German global players as well as 600 key midsize companies. BITKOM organizes more than a thousand events each year, bringing together around 20,000 decision-makers and experts from the field. Their forums, working groups and expert committees provide unique platforms for productive exchange among experts from the industry and business leaders. The ICT market is affected by heavy global competition. At the same time, political responsibility is being transferred from the national to the European level. BITKOM supports the German ICT industry as it enters new foreign markets and voices its interests at both EU and global levels.

IT-Security Cluster

33 Bavarian businesses and 3 universities with IT-Security background joined to become a Strategic Partnership building the core of the IT Security Cluster. They aim to foster cooperations, to perform R&D-Projects together, to inform about security flaws and give solutions and to demonstrate the IT-Security expertise of the network supra-regional.

a-i3

art of defence is a sustaining member of a-i3. a-i3 means "working group to protect everyone's identity on the internet". It is an independent and interdisciplinary organization founded in 2005 by the University of Bochum. They inform about how internet-users can be protected against any kind of identity misuse on the net.