Our society is characterized by a high degree of digitalization and an increasing dependence on technology over time. The robustness of systems suffers due to the strong networking of critical infrastructure (CI) services and the reduction of redundancies in favor of an expected increase in efficiency. At the same time, institutions of public interest are more and more often the target of cyber-attacks (see e.g. Frankfurt am Main City Administration, University of Maastricht) or suffer technical breakdowns (see e.g. ELAK failure Austria).

ISIDOR (note: Isidor of Seville - chosen as patron saint of the Internet by the Roman Catholic Church in 2019) examines the consequences of a long-lasting and large-scale restriction of Internet-based services or infrastructure (event). While the topic of Internet failure has so far been primarily considered through the lens of cyber security, i.e. the time span before an event, ISIDOR addresses the time span from the occurrence of an event. This includes the identification of cause-and-effect relationships and cascade effects (which may not have been detected so far) within different CI sectors and across CI sectors. Such interconnected crises are based on a complexity that organizations or regions cannot cope with on their own. It is to be feared that a massive restriction of Internet-based services could trigger a chain of supply bottlenecks that pose a threat to public order.

In ISIDOR the linking of scientific findings to the implicit and explicit knowledge of users and experts is decisive. For this purpose, representatives of the governmental crisis and catastrophe management (SKKM community), CI operators, representatives of the Länder and of CI sectors as well as other stakeholders (LOI providers: A1 Telekom Austria AG, APG Power Grid AG und Verbund Trading GmbH) are regularly involved. A strategic crisis management exercise of the BMI (Serious Game SKKM ISIDOR), several meetings of experts (Fachgruppe) as well as further workshops are used to ensure mutual benefit, iterative learning and a clear added value for the public body. Based on the knowledge documented within the SKKM community and of established processes in case of an event, ISIDOR helps to identify areas of activity, which should be strengthened in the future. Simulation models allow the SKKM to think through possible actions in case of an event. In the medium term, ISIDOR intends to contribute to raising awareness regarding the complexity of interconnected crises and, in the long term, to generate knowledge on how best to deal with them. The expected results will serve the SKKM as a basis for the further development of resilience management in 2022 and beyond.

ProjektleiterIn / Name und Institut/Unternehmen:
Univ. Prof. Dr. Manfred Gronalt
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien - Institut für Produktionswirtschaft und Logistik

Auflistung der weiteren Projekt- bzw. KooperationspartnerInnen
Name / Institut oder Unternehmen:

• Bundesministerium für Digitalisierung und Wirtschaftsstandort
• Bundesministerium für Inneres
• Infraprotect Gesellschaft für Risikoanalyse, Notfall- und Krisenmanagement GmbH
• Mar Adentro e.U.
• Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften - Institut für Technikfolgen-Abschätzung
• REPUCO Unternehmensberatung GmbH

Kontakt

Univ. Prof. Dr. Manfred Gronalt
Adresse: Universität für Bodenkultur Wien - Institut für Produktionswirtschaft und Logistik, Feistmantelstraße 4, 1180 Wien
Telefon: +43 1 47654-73200
E-Mail: manfred.gronalt@boku.ac.at
Homepage im WWW: www.wiso.boku.ac.at/pwl.html