ISO 14001

Secure and sustainable service quality of HWS recognized by independent certificates

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HWS Informationssysteme GmbH is certified according to ISO 14001, and existing certification according to ISO 27001 confirmed

Neustadt an der Aisch, Oct. 26, 2022 – HWS Informationssysteme GmbH, a medium-sized provider of IT services and software development, successfully completed ISO 14001 certification at the end of September. The internationally recognized certificate confirms the group’s efforts to operate sustainably. In addition to the new seal, the audit also confirmed the company’s ISO 27001 certificate for information security management, which it acquired last year.

Both certificates demonstrate a high awareness of the relevance of a practiced quality management system in the company. And prove the integrity in the cooperation with customers, partners, suppliers, and service providers.

Strong focus on sustainability in the new construction of company headquarters

“We of course want to further expand our efforts in the direction of sustainability and environmental protection,” says Bernd Scheurer, founder, and CEO of the group of companies. An essential step in this direction is consolidating the current four Neustadt sites into one central company building in 2024. The resulting savings will particularly affect the areas of energy and water supply as well as wastewater and waste disposal. At the same time, the new building meets KfW standards.

Sustainability across the entire supply and service chain

When selecting suppliers and working with external service providers, the focus is on sustainability. The company also focuses on sustainability and the conservation of resources when providing services. “We are continuing to expand our business with private as well as public cloud installations,” adds Glenn Galea, CSO of the corporate group. “By reducing individual, centralized data centers, our customers are also becoming more sustainable. That’s because, according to a Microsoft survey, hyper-scale data centers are roughly between 22 and 93 percent more energy efficient than traditional on-premises solutions.”

Contact information

Michaela Senft
Marketing & Communication Manager, HWS Gruppe

Telefon: +49 (0)151 5351 2501

E-Mail: michaela.senft@hws-gruppe.de

HWS Tech CenterIm Katen – Henrik Kubik

From Neustadt/Aisch to the world: HWS Tech Center to be central headquarters of the HWS Gruppe in 2024

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With the groundbreaking ceremony, the HWS Gruppe signals a quantum leap on the way to a unified company headquarters in Neustadt/Aisch

Neustadt an der Aisch, 25.07.2022 – The HWS Gruppe, a medium-sized provider of IT services and software development, symbolically heralded the construction of its new company building in the Kleinerlbach industrial park in Neustadt with a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday. From around 2024, the new central headquarters will unite the approximately 160 employees of the HWS Gruppe under one roof, who are currently spread across four locations within the district town. The future-oriented building will be designed as a green building and is aligned with the growth plans of the group of companies.

“In the heart a Neustadt citicen”

Almost exactly 22 years after the founding of HWS Informationssysteme GmbH, Bernd Scheurer, founder, and CEO of the HWS Gruppe, symbolically heralded the construction of a new company building in the Kleinerlbach industrial park in Neustadt. Although not a native of Neustadt himself, he is “a Neustadt resident at heart”, which is why his adopted home of Neustadt/Aisch should also remain the headquarters of the group of companies.

There had long been plans for a central company headquarters in Neustadt/Aisch, but there was a lack of suitable space in the district town. Together with the mayor and the city council, Scheurer worked out a solution to keep Neustadt as the company headquarters.

Growth- and employee-centered building design

By 2024, approximately 2,000 m² of office space is to be created on the site, distributed across three interconnected buildings. These will provide space for around 250 workplaces, enabling the building to keep pace with the planned growth of the corporate group. In addition, the site also offers opportunities for further expansion of the office buildings.

The consolidation of the four Neustadt locations into one central building is an important step for the company. The company wants to use the synergy effects gained through the spatial proximity positively for itself and the employees.

Important company for the economic stability of the region

District Administrator Helmut Weiß and Mayor Klaus Meier both equally emphasized the importance of the group of companies for the regional economy. Weiß went on to say that he always sees a groundbreaking ceremony as a positive sign. After all, the commitment to a new building shows that the company can hold its own in the market. “It takes people with good ideas to keep their finger on the pulse,” Weiß continues. Addressing challenges such as the shortage of skilled workers in a future-oriented manner and as forwarding thinkers. This step therefore also requires a certain amount of courage, from which not only the company but also the entire region benefits, he adds.

Sustainability thanks to the “Green Building” concept

Sustainability plays a particularly important role in the new building, emphasizes planner Walter Beck. Thanks to a photovoltaic system and heat pumps, the company will be largely self-sufficient and energy-neutral.

In addition to the guests Beck, Weiß, Maier, and the investor Susanne Scheurer, numerous employees also took part in the groundbreaking ceremony.

About HWS Informationssysteme GmbH

The HWS Gruppe offers its customers comprehensive IT services, software development, and consulting, especially in the areas of IT infrastructure, cloud operations, and identity protection. More than 160 employees from Neustadt an der Aisch (Middle Franconia) and the nearshore delivery center in Malta support both DAX corporations and upper mid-sized companies in holistic IT projects. Thanks to a progressive and demanding service approach, we have been convincing customers as a reliable and close partner for more than 20 years.

Our comprehensive IT security solution “DoubleClue” provides companies worldwide with secure identity and access management as well as a strong multifactor authentication solution.

Learn more about us and our services and software products at hws-gruppe.de & doubleclue.com.

Contact information

Michaela Senft
Marketing & Communication Manager, HWS Gruppe

Telefon: +49 (0)151 5351 2501

E-Mail: michaela.senft@hws-gruppe.de

ISO Certification

IT outsourcing specialist HWS Informationssysteme GmbH now ISO:27001 certified

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The certification confirms the high standards of the corporate group in the data processing

Neustadt an der Aisch, 2021-10-05—HWS Informationssysteme GmbH—as a part of the HWS Gruppe, a medium-sized provider of IT services and software development—has introduced an Information Security Management System (ISMS) per the international standard ISO/IEC 27001:2013. Certification by an external assessor confirms the group’s high standards in both external and internal data processing. And underlines the reliability as a service provider in the field of IT infrastructure, cloud solutions, and software development.

Integrity in data processing forms the foundation of every business relationship

For the established IT service provider HWS, certification to ISO:27001 represents the logical step for its continued strong positioning in the market. IT security and high data processing requirements form the basis for the services offered. The internationally recognized certification now proves this claim and positions HWS as a reliable partner for regional and multinational customers. It also confirms the expertise of HWS in the development of its own IT security solution “DoubleClue” in the field of identity protection. The prerequisite for certification is the introduction and establishment of an ISMS. This comprises various positions, processes, documents, and technologies that help to centrally manage, monitor, and continuously optimize information security measures.“The official introduction of an information security management system is an important milestone in our company history,” says Bernd Scheurer, founder, and CEO of the corporate group. “With the certification, we send an important signal to our customers, partners, and service providers: we—HWS Informationssysteme GmbH—demonstrate high integrity and responsibility in data processing and project support. I am immensely proud of our team: we completed the certification in just a few months and without any error points.”

Ongoing employee training and continuing education ensure long-term implementation of strategy

The successful completion of the external audit lays the foundation for a strong future. Utilizing ongoing employee training, the group ensures knowledge and awareness of the importance of information security in everyday business.HWS is continuously committed to information security and data protection at all levels. The internationally recognized ISO:27001 certification guarantees, that the relevant measures are addressed, implemented, and properly enforced in all areas of the organization.

About HWS Gruppe

HWS Gruppe offers its customers comprehensive IT services, software development, and consulting, especially in the areas of IT infrastructure, cloud operations, and identity protection. More than 150 employees from Neustadt an der Aisch (Middle Franconia) and the nearshore delivery centre in Malta support both DAX corporations and upper mid-sized companies in holistic IT projects. Thanks to a progressive and demanding service approach, we have been convincing customers as a reliable and close partner for more than 20 years.

Our comprehensive IT security solution “DoubleClue” provides companies worldwide with secure identity and access management as well as a strong multifactor authentication solution.

Learn more about us and our services and software products at hws-gruppe.de & doubleclue.com.

Contact information

Michaela Senft
Marketing & Communication Manager, HWS Gruppe

Telefon: +49 (0)151 5351 2501

E-Mail: michaela.senft@hws-gruppe.de

Deutscher Botschafter besucht HWS Technologies

Ambassador Haßmann praises the German-Maltese success story of HWS

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German ambassador’s visit to HWS partner in Malta highlights the international partnership between Germany and Malta

Neustadt a. d. Aisch, The HWS Group has maintained a close partnership with HWS Technologies in Malta since 2018. Last week, Walter Haßmann, German Ambassador to Malta, and Olaf Rieck, Head of the Economic Section of the German Embassy, visited the HWS partner at its headquarters in Balzan. The visit focused especially on the further growth strategy of both companies as well as the expansion of local and international relations of the Maltese partner company.

Of particular interest to Haßmann was the success story of how the cooperation between the German and Maltese companies succeeded and continues to succeed. An important basis here is the similar business mentality of both nations. In addition to the successful establishment of the company and the profitable partnership, the strategic and bureaucratic hurdles in setting up the company were also a topic. Walter Haßmann particularly addressed the possibilities of how the German Embassy can best support companies in establishing international partnerships. “In addition to networking, continuous training is the key to the success of our companies,” emphasized Bernd Scheurer, CEO of the HWS Group. “The IT industry is very mutably, so it needs companies that bring an equally agile mindset. This is the only way to successfully meet the requirements of customers and the constantly changing markets. In addition, motivation, specialization and diversity play a key role. I am immensely proud to say that my team brings exactly this to the table.”

Today, the HWS Group team is represented by more than 26 nationalities. “It is precisely this internationality combined with strong local ties – both in Neustadt a. d. Aisch, Germany and in Balzan, Malta – that make HWS the perfect partner for internationally oriented customers in the SME and enterprise sector,” says Glenn Galea, Chief Sales Officer at HWS.

For the HWS Group, the most important result of the joint exchange is the newly established contact through Rieck with the Chamber of Commerce in Malta. As an active member of the entrepreneurial network “Forum for Young Entrepreneurs under 40”, Galea will actively shape the strategic direction of the partnership and drive the growth of both companies.

Contact information

Michaela Senft
Marketing & Communication Manager, HWS Gruppe

Telefon: +49 (0)151 5351 2501

E-Mail: michaela.senft@hws-gruppe.de

Identity Protection Software DoubleClue extended with automated workflow capabilities

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With the new version DoubleClue Enterprise Management 2.5, HWS Gruppe focuses on an improved user experience and thus combines the highest security with the best performance.

Neustadt an der Aisch, 08.07.2021 – HWS Gruppe, a medium-sized provider of software development and IT services, announces the release of DoubleClue Enterprise Management (DCEM) 2.5. In addition to a completely redesigned user interface, the latest version of the identity protection solution brings secure and convenient single sign-on to all popular web applications and services and automation in the areas of file management and administration.

HWS Gruppe introduced DoubleClue 2018 as the German IAM solution for a successful digital trust strategy. The high functional scope in the area of identity security meets the requirements of modern companies of all sizes: in addition to multifactor authentication for logging in to different devices and services, DoubleClue brings an IAM with adaptive access policies as well as the central password manager DoubleClue PasswordSafe and the cloud data storage DoubleClue CloudSafe.

DoubleClue MyApplications: Single Sign-On for more efficient workflows

The latest version DCEM 2.5 focuses on improving the user experience as well as workflow management. Whereas IT security software solutions were previously considered an obstacle to workflow automation, single sign-on solutions offer an efficient way to support workflow and productivity management. At the same time, single sign-on protects digital identities during the login process.

“Today, IT security software must be able to do much more than ‘just’ provide security,” comments Marc Pantalone, Business Development Manager at HWS. “Rather, it must be able to support processes and workflows and increase employee productivity. Companies need software whose handling is intuitive and quick to learn. Only if a solution also offers added value in day-to-day work the acceptance for investment and use will increase among the management level as well as the workforce.”

Integration of popular third-party authenticator apps for uninterrupted login processes

DoubleClue MyApplications enables uninterrupted login processes by integrating popular third-party Authenticator apps. Users who already use an Authenticator app for two-factor authentication with PayPal, social media, or other services can integrate it in DoubleClue. The access to the one-time password required for identification is automated in the background after a successful setup in the DoubleClue MyApplications dashboard.

Developed with customers for customers

HWS Gruppe focuses on close customer feedback in the further development of the software solution.

“Only by also involving our customers in the further development of features we can deliver a product that meets the needs of the market without compromise,” adds Emanuel Galea, Senior Director Software Development at HWS. “For example, the key unique selling point of our single sign-on, the integration of third-party authenticator apps, is directly attributable to customer feedback. Since many services already supported two-factor authentication with third-party providers such as Google or Microsoft Authenticator, our customer wanted to continue using them – while benefiting from the convenience of a single sign-on. Therefore, we designed DoubleClue MyApplications so that these solutions could also be included when setting up single sign-on to ensure a fully automated and highly secure sign-on process.”

DoubleClue meets OWASP standards

DCEM 2.5 complies with the latest OWASP standards such as support for Content Security Policy (CSP) and protection against Cross-Site Scripting (XSS). HWS Gruppe thus offers companies an answer to the new challenges resulting from the increasing digitalization of the economy.

Automations simplify administration

In addition to DoubleClue MyApplications, DCEM 2.5 offers further improvements in automating processes for users and administrators. The most decisive innovation is the group-based rights management, which replaces the role-based model. This significantly reduces the administration effort when onboarding new employees and implementing new systems.

The most important new features in DCEM 2.5

  • Single sign-on dashboard DoubleClue MyApplications for all popular web applications in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge
  • Integration of all popular third-party Authenticator apps
  • New automation for document management in DoubleClue CloudSafe
  • Customizable user keys for encryption of confidential files in DoubleClue CloudSafe
  • Simplified administration with group-based permissions and improved dashboards for administrators
  • Support for Content Security Policy (CSP)
  • Modern design for even more intuitive access to the system

The DoubleClue identity protection solution is available on-premises or in the German cloud.

About HWS Informationssysteme GmbH

HWS Gruppe offers its customers comprehensive IT services, software development, and consulting, especially in the areas of IT infrastructure, cloud operations, and identity protection. More than 150 employees from Neustadt an der Aisch (Middle Franconia) and the nearshore delivery center in Malta support both DAX corporations and upper mid-sized companies in holistic IT projects. Thanks to a progressive and demanding service approach, we have been convincing customers as a reliable and close partner for more than 20 years.

Our comprehensive IT security solution “DoubleClue” provides companies worldwide with secure identity and access management as well as a strong multifactor authentication solution.

Learn more about us and our services and software products at hws-gruppe.de & doubleclue.com.

Kontaktinformation

Michaela Senft
Marketing & Communication Manager, HWS Gruppe

Telefon: +49 (0)151 5351 2501

E-Mail: michaela.senft@hws-gruppe.de

Multifaktor Authentifizierung mit DoubleClue©Rawpixel.com - stock.adobe.com // HWS

Ensure strong password security in the company

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DoubleClue KeePass Plugin Provides KeePass Users with Comprehensive Security Upgrade through Multifactor Authentication

Neustadt an der Aisch, Germany, April 28, 2021 – The HWS Group, a medium-sized provider of software development and IT services, offers companies with DoubleClue a holistic software solution for identity management. The integrated DoubleClue PasswordSafe builds on KeePass. Centralized password storage and additional multifactor authentication protect against password and identity theft.

DoubleClue PasswordSafe is based on the encryption algorithm of KeePass, a globally popular open-source password manager. This compatibility allows easy import and export of existing data from KeePass using the DoubleClue KeePass plugin. At the same time, multifactor authentication, as well as centralized storage in the cloud, increase the application’s security. Since passwords are not stored on the end device, DoubleClue PasswordSafe enables secure usage on multiple devices.

Identity protection requirements in the company environment have increased

“The BKA has observed an increasing number of cyberattacks on companies for years. This brings the question of effective technical protection as well as a sustainable password policy to the forefront at management levels,” says Emanuel Galea, Senior Director Software Development at HWS. “Our experience has shown that many companies rely on KeePass. However, KeePass lacks key collaboration and security features by default in the company environment.”

KeePass gets a comprehensive security upgrade with the DoubleClue KeePass plugin. Multifactor authentication and centralized encrypted storage meet current security and mobility requirements in the company environment.

DoubleClue PasswordSafe eliminates password theft by insiders

Along with organized crime, insiders are primarily responsible for enterprise data incidents. A Bitkom study published in 2019 suggests that insiders were responsible for data espionage and sabotage in more than half of the companies surveyed.

HWS Group has responded to this finding. DoubleClue relies on a two-part key for encryption in the cloud. The important part of the key is known only to the user. This rules out unauthorized access by internal resources despite central storage. Multifactor authentication also protects against account theft, such as phishing or brute force attacks.

DoubleClue PasswordSafe at a glance

  •  Encryption with a two-part key prevents internal and external access by third parties
  •  Integrated multifactor authentication protects against account theft
  • DoubleClue KeePass plugin allows the import and export of KeePass (kdbx) files into DoubleClue PasswordSafe
  • High usability thanks to the clear web portal and mobile apps for Android and iOS with AutoFill
  • Centralized encrypted storage of passwords ensures device-independent access and sharing of credentials and passwords with internal and external contacts
  • Use on-premises or in the HWS high-security cloud on German servers

With DoubleClue, the HWS Group offers companies of all sizes a comprehensive solution in the area of identity security. A deep Identity and Access Management (IAM) with integrated highly secure PasswordSafe as well as cloud storage and modern Multifactor Authentication (MFA).

Contact Information

Michaela Senft
Marketing & Communication Manager, HWS Gruppe

Tel: +49 (0)151 5351 2501

E-Mail: michaela.senft@hws-gruppe.de