KRITIS stands for critical infrastructures that are essential for the functioning of society. These include energy supply, water, healthcare and IT. Their protection is essential for public safety and the economy
KRITIS is the abbreviation for"critical infrastructures". This refers to facilities and systems that are of central importance to the functioning of the community. Their failure or impairment would lead to lasting supply bottlenecks, significant disruptions to public safety or other dramatic consequences.
Critical infrastructures include various sectors, such as
- Energy (electricity, gas and water supply)
- Information technology and telecommunications
- Transport and traffic (rail, road and air transport)
- Healthcare (hospitals, emergency services)
- Water (drinking water and wastewater systems)
- Food (food production and distribution)
- Finance and insurance
- Government and administration (public safety, government services)
In Germany, the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) regulates the security requirements for KRITIS operators as part of the IT Security Act in order to ensure their protection against cyber attacks.
In Austria, KRITIS also refers to critical infrastructures that are crucial to the functioning of the country. The Austrian Federal Act on the Security of Critical Infrastructures (CIP Act) defines which infrastructures are considered critical and how their protection can be guaranteed.
