Akarion 2024: A Year Marked by Innovation and Trust

The year 2024 is drawing to a close—a year filled with exciting events, valuable insights, and groundbreaking product innovations at Akarion. We look back with great pleasure on the highlights that have inspired us and our customers.

I. Product Updates: Innovation Meets Simplification

In addition to events and collaborations, our focus this year was on further developing our products. In doing so, we not only introduced new features but also optimized existing modules:

• New OLA/SLA Function

With the new SLA/OLA inheritance features, we’ve given your BCM module a turbo boost. Thanks to end-to-end inheritance of requirements and back-inheritance of non-compliance, you can quickly and reliably identify vulnerabilities in your internal and external supply chains. 

Figure 1: Simple SLA/OLA representation in the BCM module

• Customer Preview App

With the Customer Preview App, you now have the opportunity to test major changes to our product four weeks in advance. Use this feature to test new features and functions in advance, and please feel free to give us feedback!

• External Audit

Supplier audits have become significantly more streamlined and straightforward with this new feature. With the scheduled and automated external audit, you always have a clear overview of your suppliers and their services. 

• Usability: Menu Navigation Improvements, Chatbot 

In 2024, we’ve also made several improvements to the user experience and usability of our software. In addition to the new menu navigation and the full integration of the Help Center into the tool, we’ve also put a lot of effort into AKAI, our new AI chatbot. 

• Filters 

The filters in Akarion GRC Cloud have taken a quantum leap in 2024 and are now significantly more powerful. Filter by empty fields or references, narrow down time periods, and explicitly exclude metadata. This significantly improves not only data selection but also reports.  

II. Focus on the NIS2 Regulation 2024: Akarion’s Solution for Information Security Management and ISO 27001 Certification

Last winter was dominated by the updated Whistleblower Protection Act (you can find more content on this here), but another key topic soon came into focus: the further development of the European NIS Regulation. This brings groundbreaking innovations for information security, particularly for critical sectors, but also for companies of various sizes and industries.

To make the sometimes complex requirements of NIS2 more accessible, we have pooled our expertise. In a highly acclaimed webinar featuring experts from the fields of law, technology, and consulting—which, by the way, you can watch here at any time—we provided practical insights. At the same time, we have been working intensively to seamlessly integrate the regulation into our product portfolio. The result is an innovative, even more efficient solution that helps companies establish an Information Security Management System (ISMS) that meets all NIS2 requirements.

With this comprehensive ISMS, Akarion will offer not only an effective tool for implementing information security standards under NIS2 in 2024, but also an ideal foundation for ISO 27001 certification.

Figure 2: Dashboard of Akarion’s ISMS module

III. Cyber Resilience Forum: A Successful Launch and Exciting Continuation

The Cyber Resilience Forum celebrated a successful premiere this year as part of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz.

Top-tier experts such as Jürgen Weiss (ARES), Dr. Michael M. Pachinger (SAXINGER), and Thomas Pfeiffer (CISO at Linz Netz GmbH and CEO of council.at) provided valuable insights into the evolution of cyberattacks and the importance of effective cyber resilience systems. The event culminated in a presentation by Ron Kneffel (Bredex, CISO at Allianz), who captivated the audience with his visionary approach. Participants were particularly impressed by the mix of informative presentations and lively networking, which inspired them to continue the initiative.

The second edition took place in Munich in October and focused on the new NIS2 Directive and its impact on critical infrastructure. In addition to Ron Kneffel, Sascha Fröhlich (CISO at Sana Clinics), the business partner duo Gurcke and Steps from Marsh Medical, and Hans Oberlechner from ITK Ingenieure Service provided exciting and practical insights. Here, too, the lively discussion following the presentations demonstrated how important networking is within the cybersecurity community.

Highlights from the Cyber Resilience Forum in Munich (October 17, 2024)

Looking Ahead: 2024 as the Foundation for a Strong 2025

For us, 2024 was marked by innovation and intensive collaboration. The experience we gained and the open dialogue with our customers and partners have provided us with valuable insights and strengthened us for the challenges and opportunities of the coming year.

With this momentum, we look forward to 2025 with confidence. We look forward to working together on groundbreaking projects. Our special thanks go to everyone who has accompanied and supported us this year. Your partnership and trust are invaluable to us.

Here’s to a successful new year—let’s shape 2025 together!

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