Citizens and society as a whole Comprehensive protection of information infrastructures in Germany is not only the business of IT specialists. It needs the commitment of everyone – of manufacturers of IT products, service providers, employees, people in charge of IT matters in public authorities and private businesses, and of those who use these structures. As consumers, citizens increasingly use information infrastructures. In so doing, well-informed consumers are very aware of the security issues involved and therefore prefer trustworthy products and procedures. Hence, compliance with high security standards is also a positive economic factor for IT manufacturers and distributors and IT service providers; it is the basis of a functioning market and innovation schemes. The aim of the Federal Government is to encourage people to make more intensive use of existing information and information provided in this National Plan. By following the government’s recommendations citizens actively contribute to IT security in Germany, and at the same time manufacturers and distributors of IT products and services are encouraged to give utmost priority to the security of their products already during development and adequately inform their customers of IT risks and possible protective measures. International cooperation in protecting information infrastructures In addition to cooperation with private businesses, another main pillar of the National Plan is actively advocating German interests in order to shape policy at the international level. Binding standards for checking and evaluating security features of IT products are a prerequisite for secure information infrastructures. Therefore, the Federal Government advocates the creation of appropriate international norms and standards. Page 8