BSI

BSI is an acronym that can refer to more than one organization, with the two most prominent meanings being the British Standards Institution and the Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik.

British Standards Institution. The British Standards Institution (BSI) is the United Kingdom’s national standards body. It develops and publishes standards for products, services, and management systems, often under the BS or BS EN designations, and coordinates with international bodies such as ISO and IEC. In addition to standardization, BSI offers conformity assessment, testing, inspection, and certification services, including the well-known Kitemark mark that signals compliance with specified standards. BSI has a long history dating back to 1901 (originally as the Engineering Standards Committee) and holds a royal charter. It operates as a private, not-for-profit organization with a global presence through offices and partnerships, serving industry, government, and consumers.

Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik. The Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik (BSI) is the German federal office responsible for information security. It advises the federal government on IT security, supports protection of government networks and critical infrastructure, and develops IT security standards and guidelines, including the IT-Grundschutz baseline. The BSI also conducts vulnerability analyses, coordinates incident response, and participates in international cooperation on cyber security. It functions as a central authority for IT security within Germany and collaborates with other national and European bodies to improve digital resilience and trust in information technology.

Other uses of BSI exist in various contexts, including private organizations or concepts that adopt the acronym. Context is important to determine which BSI is being referenced.