Basisschutz

Basisschutz is the baseline level of information security measures defined within the IT-Grundschutz framework of the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). It provides a standardized set of protective measures intended to be applicable to most typical IT environments and aims to safeguard confidentiality, integrity, availability and authenticity of information and services.

The Basisschutz consists of a catalog of security measures organized across domains such as organizational, personnel, physical and technical security. These measures are selected and implemented based on an organization’s protection needs (Schutzbedarf) and risk assessment. Basisschutz forms the foundational layer of the IT-Grundschutz approach; if an environment has higher risk, additional measures from higher protection levels may be required.

Application and impact: The Basisschutz is widely used in German public administration and is frequently adopted by private organizations as a practical, cost-effective starting point for information security. It supports regulatory compliance, provides a structured approach to security management, and facilitates alignment with or certification against broader standards.

Implementation and evolution: The Basisschutz is described in the IT-Grundschutz Compendium published by BSI and is maintained to reflect evolving threats and technologies. Organizations typically conduct a baseline assessment, implement the standard measures, and tailor them to their specific environment, potentially expanding to higher protection levels as needed.