CAST (association)
The CAST eV is a non-profit association based in Darmstadt . It is one of the most important contact and training organizations for IT security in German-speaking countries.
CAST is an acronym and stands for Competence Center for Applied Security Technology . The aim of the statutes is training and further education in the field of IT security. Many of the leading German IT security experts give regular lectures on current work at CAST; according to the Federal Network Agency , scientists and auditors or manufacturers of security software .
The main activity is monthly training workshops on various topics related to IT security. There are also tutorials lasting several days and the placement of experts and auditors on IT security issues. The CAST eV annually announces a sponsorship award, which should encourage students and trainees to devote themselves to the various problems of IT security. This is the highest endowed sponsorship award for IT security in Germany.
The association was founded in 1999 as a forum in the ZGDV eV. The name “CAST Forum” also comes from this period. The initiators were TU Darmstadt , the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research (IGD) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology (SIT). Since January 1st, 2004 the former CAST-Forum has been an independent, non-profit association . The approximately 250 members of CAST eV are made up of small and medium-sized companies, large corporations, research institutions and authorities. The chairman of the board is Johannes Buchmann .