Germany doesn’t joke around about security, and one of its most well-known companies is helping create an alliance to curb malicious attacks in the connected world.

Volkswagen Group announced that it has partnered with insurance company Allianz SE, pharmaceutical company Bayer AG, and chemical producer BASF SE, to form the “DCSO” (German Cybersecurity Organization).  The goal of the company is to operate as the preferred cybersecurity service provider for companies in Germany.

The DCSO will operate as a financially independent limited liability company, and the four founding investors will put up the seed capital. Once antitrust approval has been obtained, the founding companies will each hold a 25 percent stake in DCSO. Profits made will be reinvested in research and development, and in strategic projects.

“Attacks on corporate IT systems are increasing, and it’s of interest to Germany’s economy to be prepared,” Lasse Osteneck, a spokesman for Volkswagen, said in an interview with Bloomberg. “Security is non-negotiable and that’s also true for Volkswagen. We believe the new company is closing a market gap.”

DCSO will collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Interior (BMI) and the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) to gather specialist knowledge regarding cybersecurity, and this exchange of information is expected to help compile anonymized status report on national cybersecurity.

Aside from gathering cybersecurity knowledge, the organization will also support other companies that are active in Germany to improve their security architecture  by offering high-quality services that are able to identify cyber risks as well as repel cyber attacks. Some of the services include an early-warning system and security audits to review corporate information security, and the first services will be rolled out in 2016. The DCSO also aims to develop new security technologies with its collaboration with other partners.

Interested parties are welcome to join DCSO, which will also have a specialist council that will foster the development of services jointly developed by businesses and industry associations. This specialist council will also serve as a joint forum for cybersecurity in Germany.

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