NRW.BANK is the development bank for North Rhine-Westphalia. In order to effectively meet the growing security requirements and the challenges of digital change and to be able to focus on its core business, it decided to fully outsource its central and decentralized IT infrastructures. Since 2017, DATAGROUP has been responsible for the secure and stable operation of IT as a general IT contractor in strict compliance with all regulatory requirements and IT compliance requirements.
As part of this operating model, DATAGROUP also provides the hardware for the centralized and decentralized infrastructure and the associated operating systems at the customer's site. DATAGROUP is responsible for the operation, security and availability of the infrastructure so that NRW.BANK can focus on its core business.
DATAGROUP offers comprehensive security services that are specifically tailored to the requirements of the financial sector - especially with regard to the requirements of the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). With the implementation obligation since January 2025, the entire EU financial sector faces the challenge of systematically strengthening its digital resilience. DATAGROUP provides a modular Security-as-a-Service offering that actively supports customers in complying with regulatory requirements such as DORA.
In addition, NRW.BANK receives support from DATAGROUP as part of the Managed SIEM Service (Security Information and Event Management), which, for example, centrally collects and analyzes log data and identifies potential attack patterns. This service is complemented by continuous vulnerability management as well as network monitoring by means of IDS and IPS functions as part of the Managed Net Security Service (NSM - Network Security Monitoring, IDS - Intrusion Detection System, IPS - Intrusion Prevention System).
An important part of IT services is IT compliance. As a company in the financial sector, NRW.BANK is subject to defined statutory, industry-specific and internal requirements in the field of information technology. These include data protection and security as well as the availability and integrity of IT systems and processes.
"NRW.BANK has been working in partnership with DATAGROUP for many years. As a general IT contractor, DATAGROUP ensures the smooth and secure operation of the infrastructure and thus creates the technical basis for our daily work as a development bank."
DATAGROUP was responsible for the successful implementation of IT outsourcing at NRW.BANK with professional project management. The aim was to implement modernization measures without interruption and in a user-oriented manner.
Thanks to precise planning, close coordination with all departments involved and forward-looking management of the individual project phases, the implementation was carried out smoothly - without any significant disruption to ongoing business operations. The approach was based on proven standards and enabled efficient implementation with a high level of employee acceptance.
As part of the IT outsourcing, a dedicated service organization was established that is precisely aligned with NRW.BANK's structures and processes. This close integration ensures smooth operational processes and high service quality.
DATAGROUP acts as a service provider at eye level - with an understanding of NRW.BANK's specific requirements and a clear focus on stability and reliability in day-to-day IT operations. The close, trusting cooperation forms the basis for a long-term partnership with a high degree of planning security and flexible scope for action.
NRW.BANK is the development bank for North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). In close partnership with its owner, the state of NRW, it helps to strengthen SMEs and start-ups, create affordable housing and improve public infrastructure. NRW.BANK offers people, companies and municipalities in NRW tailor-made financing and advisory services. It works with financing partners, in particular all banks and savings banks, on a non-competitive basis. In order to strengthen the transformation processes, it provides targeted funding impetus - towards a sustainable, climate-neutral and digital NRW. More information is available at www.nrwbank.de.