Crypto Academy: Learning from Each Other – Benefiting Together

For 60 years, Crypto AG has been providing maximum security solutions for information protection to its customers in more than 130 countries around the world. Along with providing excellent products, the company imparts comprehensive expertise for the secure handling of sensitive data and knowledge warranting protection. In return, it profits substantially from its customers' experiences, ideas and questions. This input allows the company to improve its own services constantly, which again benefits the customers.
by Urs Baur, Senior IT Security Education and Training Engineer, and Jahn Koch, Customer Segment Manager

Crypto Academy

Security in a given field of technology generally has its origins in a collaboration between highly specialised security experts and practical-minded technology users. The more intensive the exchange of knowledge can be between the two groups, the more sustainable the outcome will be. The Crypto Academy has enjoyed an excellent reputation for decades as an institution engaged in training and in security cooperation.

ICT security today is at least as complex as the ICT projects themselves. Security has to be taken into account in the planning of a data network to ensure a network that is solid and efficient from one end to the other. For instance, classification criteria and zone boundaries are two crucial dimensions deserving special attention in the analysis of customer requirements and solution design. Crypto AG assists its customers from the earliest planning phase of a project to its implementation and permanent operation as well as helping to pass on acquired knowledge within the customer's organisation. System engineers and users must have a firm grasp of the security architecture and the correct handling of all system components relevant to security, particularly in daily business operations. They can acquire this knowledge conveniently and at first hand in Steinhausen in customised form and in their native language wherever possible. Customers benefit there from the close proximity of developers and engineers and from the first-class personal service, which leaves nothing to be desired. All these efforts give rise to trust. This trust makes the customers willing to contribute their own experience from the daily use of their systems to the collaboration with Crypto AG. The company, for its part, can incorporate this valuable input directly into the further development of security components that fit the given situation perfectly.

Carefree Learning at the Crypto Academy

Trainees come from all over the globe to take courses at the Crypto Academy. They confirm that Crypto AG offers considerably more than any comparable provider of security expertise for IT specialists. Course participants not only receive training on Crypto products and in the field of cryptology, they also have direct access to all experts and bearers of knowledge who have designed and implemented solutions for their respective organisations. This access is a unique chance for customers to bring their own experience, questions and requests to bear right where specialists are engaged in working, further developing and, if need be, optimising on their behalf. Crypto AG develops, produces and services security components for your solutions exclusively at the Steinhausen facility in order to avoid security gaps. That way guests have a direct connection to their evaluated technology.

In addition, trainees benefit from numerous amenities: accommodation in first-class hotels of their chosen category or in the company's own comfortably furnished private flat in Zug, an appealing and varied social programme in picturesque central Switzerland and other parts of Switzerland, comprehensive accident and health insurance for the duration of their stay and the possibility of further individual arrangements. When selecting a training course, customers can be sure of receiving customised security expertise based on comprehensive risk analysis combined with full premium service. It is no accident that Crypto Academy was awarded five stars again in 2010 and 2011, the highest International Training Centre Rating (ITCR).

Demanding Projects: Treasure Trove of Experience from Crypto AG

The company considers it vital to be responsive to the organisational culture and diverse needs of its guests. It feels vindicated in this approach by the intervening decades. One positive aspect returning trainees notice is that most trainers have been working for the company for years and teach with undiminished enthusiasm. Engaging discussions and the sharing of technical details regularly help to produce innovative solutions and products at the company. This benefit does not remain unused. At least 20% of annual turnover is ploughed back into research and development.

The responsible trainers, in turn, enjoy seeing the course participants from different customer organisations interact in such a casual, friendly way amongst themselves. Although Crypto AG guarantees its customers maximum discretion and privacy on request, it is often the participants themselves who strike up conversations with each other out of interest. People therefore establish contact with each other at Steinhausen and share ideas and thoughts there. Long-lasting friendships have also been known to develop in this neutral setting, so protected and tranquil. The company creates an atmosphere that makes learning enjoyable and that maximises its benefits for customers' employees and their positions at home. Finally, one other aspect should not be underestimated. People who complete training courses at Crypto AG often become important decision-makers on security issues within their organisations later on in their careers.