Standardization Beyond the Standard

Digitalization presents universities with ever-new challenges. Especially in the last five years, the demands on IT security, availability, and efficiency have significantly increased, particularly concerning mobile learning. To prepare HSD for these challenges, Hennig Mohren, CIO of the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences, and his team had a clear and simple strategy: consistent standardization. In our new case study, we reveal how he laid the foundation for sustainable IT security at HSD in close collaboration with us.

Teaching and learning have always been subject to constant change. However, the pace of change has noticeably accelerated recently. What used to take place almost exclusively in lecture halls and offices within university walls now also happens outside the university: online, directly from the living rooms of professors and students. This hybrid teaching requires IT systems that are available around the clock and offer high information security, as the number of attacks has noticeably increased.

Dedicated SOC for Maximum Flexibility

What convinced him most were our deployed Microsoft technologies Defender XDR and Sentinel, as well as the strategy of our Managed SOC services. Unlike the state SOC, all data remains in HSD’s tenant with our solution – and our glueckkanja team works directly within the university’s existing environment. This approach integrates seamlessly into the university’s security architecture, as it avoids building VPNs in the cloud – a practice often used by more traditional security solutions to enable external access via network protocols. Additionally, for HSD’s IT team, proactive support, reactive assistance, high availability of our SOC, and the focus on continuous improvement were decisive advantages.

In this area, our service scored highly. Frequently occurring problems can be addressed in advance through a configuration change, preventing incidents from arising in the first place. Secure, practical, and above all, extremely convenient – and the response time is impressive. “Sometimes we notice faster than the affected individuals that something is happening on their computers,” reports Henning Mohren. But that’s not his only reason to be pleased.

„
Digital transformation in universities requires not only flexible and innovative learning environments but also an IT security strategy that can withstand increasing threats. At the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences, the use of modern Microsoft technologies combined with a Managed SOC from glueckkanja has created a resilient IT infrastructure while providing a productive learning environment for students and faculty. This is an excellent example of how technology, security, and innovation can successfully work together.
Dr. Dr. Nadja Younes
Education & Research Business Lead Germany, Microsoft 

Simplicity: 1. Chaos: 0.

The success of this strategy is evident. Since the implementation of our SOC services, HSD has not experienced a successful attack or system outage – despite the generally increasing number of cyberattacks. Additionally, endpoint and network security have been enhanced, and the entire IT team’s security awareness has noticeably increased. Everyone is now much clearer about what to do and where to look twice.

Searching is out,
being found is in!

One of these strategic topics is currently preparing for the BSI basic protection certification in 2026. The full attention is on developing standardized documentation for the audits. Additionally, our CSOC will help implement further security measures in the future. At the same time, it aims to balance the freedom of research & teaching with important IT compliance.

Tips for Successful SOC Implementation

Henning Mohren and Moritz Löbmann have three pieces of advice for you if you are about to implement an SOC.

Tip Number 1: Develop a complete cybersecurity strategy before implementation. It is essential to reduce manufacturer complexity through targeted standardization. The advantages of this approach are clear. A standardized and focused approach brings efficiency and security into harmony, enables deep integration of various security tools, unified logging through a central SIEM system, and a clear central interface.

Tip Number 2: Choose reliable technologies that perfectly fit your own infrastructure!

Tip Number 3: Get a security partner on board who offers both proactive and reactive measures. This combination ensures comprehensive protection and maximum effectiveness in IT security.

“If you follow all this, you not only gain significantly more security, but you also create the foundation for sustainable success,” reflects Henning Mohren on the fruitful collaboration with us. A collaboration that has shown how standardization and specialized SOC services can elevate IT security to a completely new level.

About HSD

The Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences (HSD) is a modern, practice-oriented university with around 10,000 students. It offers a wide range of subjects in architecture, design, engineering, social and economic sciences, as well as cultural and media studies. Particularly noteworthy are its close ties with the business world and its focus on applied research. The modern campus in the Derendorf district provides an inspiring learning environment with excellent facilities.