Germany Considers Launching Unified State Cyberdefense Agency

The defense ministry is planning to establish a single military entity to bring centralize computer and online security protocols currently distributed among forces, the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported Sunday, citing military sources.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen is willing to adapt the country's armed forces to face the challenges of cyberwarfare by establishing a single cyberdefense entity, local media reported.

According to the media outlet, the German defense minister is expected to present her proposals on the new organization within the coming weeks.

The ministry has not confirmed or denied the announcement.

In 2011, then-Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich established a National Cyberdefence Center to respond to attacks on computers within the German government. The Federal Audit Office reported in 2014 that the center was unable to provide consistent and robust defense against online attacks.