In this episode of Integrity Insights, host Filip Brokes is joined by two seasoned experts to discuss information security, an increasingly crucial issue impacting businesses and institutions globally.

Filip speaks with Annette Farrenkopf, Information Security Officer at Berlin Risk Advisors, and Christian Stehle, Founder and Managing Director of MindBytes, an IT security company based in Germany.

Annette shares her career journey from managing an advertising agency to spearheading information security and data protection at Berlin Risk. She explains information security through its three fundamental principles: confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Emphasising the risks of financial loss, reputational damage, and potential harm from compromised data, Annette highlights the growing necessity for robust security measures, citing a recent KPMG study indicating over one-third of German companies suffered from cybercrime incidents between 2023 and 2024.

Christian introduces MindBytes and describes its services, specialising in penetration testing and red teaming—ethical hacking practices aimed at proactively identifying vulnerabilities before malicious actors exploit them. He elaborates on the difference between these methods and underscores the critical role of open-source intelligence (OSINT) in preparing and executing realistic cyber-attacks to test organisations’ defences.

The episode also explores the EU’s Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), implemented in January 2025, highlighting its impact on financial entities and their tech service providers. Annette provides insights into DORA’s significance for the financial sector, while Christian emphasizes the necessity of such regulatory frameworks in an increasingly interconnected digital landscape.

Key topics covered in this episode:

• Understanding information security and its importance
• Ethical hacking: penetration testing vs. red teaming
• Utilising OSINT for security assessments
• Impact of the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) on financial entities and technology providers

Tune in to gain valuable insights from experts navigating the complex landscape of information security.

Host: Filip Brokes Guests: Annette Farrenkopf (Berlin Risk Advisors),  Christian Stehle (MindBytes)

Produced by Berlin Risk 

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