Absichern

Absichern is a German verb meaning to secure or protect against a risk, and in everyday language also to insure something or to back someone up. The related noun Absicherung denotes the measures taken to reduce risk or ensure safety. In practice, absichern covers personal protection, financial risk management, contractual guarantees, and technical security.

Personal risk management involves securing against everyday hazards through insurance, savings, and contractual protections that compensate in cases of illness, disability, unemployment, or other harm. Financial risk management uses absicherung to hedge an investment position and limit potential losses, typically with derivatives such as options or futures, or through diversification and position sizing. Legal and contractual contexts rely on warranties, guarantees, and performance bonds to provide Absicherung by securing obligations and compensating for breaches. In information technology and cybersecurity, Absicherung refers to measures that protect systems and data, including access controls, backups, redundancy, and incident response planning.

Limitations exist: Absicherung reduces risk but cannot eliminate it, and it often incurs costs or may result in imperfect hedges or residual exposure. The appropriate measures depend on risk tolerance, regulatory requirements, and budget. Examples of usage include strategies to absichern against financial volatility or to absichern against illness or job loss.

Related topics include Absicherung, Versicherung, and Risikomanagement.