Axpo Systems and Threema: Enhancing Data Security in the Energy Sector

As part of the critical infrastructure, the energy sector has special requirements for secure information and data exchange. With “REVIVE,” Axpo Systems provides a crisis management platform specifically developed for this sector. Threema OnPrem serves as the central communication module.

Attacks on critical infrastructure are increasing exponentially, and insecure communication channels often provide the gateway. Data protection is particularly important in the energy sector because interruptions, such as power outages, directly threaten public safety. To guarantee business continuity and security of supply at all times, Axpo Systems will rely on Threema in the future.

Threema OnPrem as a Framework for Secure Communication

Thanks to its collaboration with Threema, Axpo Systems – a subsidiary of the energy service provider Axpo – now offers companies in the energy sector a highly secure solution for handling emergency situations: “REVIVE” is a suite of crisis management tools hosted in Axpo Systems’ private cloud. Threema OnPrem, the self-hosted version of Threema Work that guarantees complete data sovereignty, serves as the communication center of the REVIVE product.

For maximum resilience, the solution uses the SCION protocol, developed at ETH Zurich, which enables secure and controlled data transmission. Integration into the Secure Swiss Utility Network (SSUN) ensures that only authorized participants can communicate within an isolated trust domain. This keeps communication stable and protected even in the event of large-scale Internet disruptions.

Axpo Systems’ strategic roadmap envisions the use of Threema OnPrem as a proactive crisis management platform rather than merely a communication tool. A key milestone in this process is implementing smart interfaces to industry-specific peripheral systems. These interfaces allow automated status messages to be transferred to the secure chat. At the same time, deep integration into the Operations Control Center (OCC) ensures immediate crisis communication, physically isolated from the rest of the corporate network, in the event of cybersecurity incidents, network disruptions, or physical security incidents.

Central Features for Emergency Communication and Administration

Threema’s solution not only offers stability by providing a reliable backup and out-of-band channel in the event of a crisis, it also actively supports all emergency communication. With the help of the broadcast tool, the entire workforce, individual teams, or external partners can be reached easily, directly, and in a targeted manner. This speeds up communication between control centers, technicians, and authorities, etc. The app’s ease of use and numerous features tailored to everyday work enable precise coordination, shorten decision-making processes, and ensure that companies remain operational at all times.

Through its collaboration with Axpo Systems, Threema is making an important contribution to secure communication and resilience in the Swiss energy sector.