Digital Future Needs Security
Interview with Tim Cappelmann, Managing Director of AirITSystems GmbH
No digital future without resilient IT infrastructure – under this motto, Wirtschaftsforum talked with Tim Cappelmann, one of three managing directors of AirITSystems GmbH in Langenhagen since 2021. In the interview, he explains how the medium-sized company with airport DNA has become a trusted advisor for critical IT and security solutions, why prevention is today's most important response to digital threats – and how AirITSystems aligns security, innovation, and economic resilience, from the airport to the hospital.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Cappelmann, could you please introduce yourself briefly?
Tim Cappelmann: I am 48 years old, a graduate engineer in information technology and have been with AirITSystems for 18 years, since 2021 as one of three managing directors. Our headquarters is in Langenhagen near Hanover, where I also live.
Wirtschaftsforum: Do the roots of your company lie in the airport sector?
Tim Cappelmann: We were spun off from Hannover Airport IT in 2001. To this day, our shareholders, Flughafen Hannover GmbH and Fraport AG, are among our biggest customers. We manage to bridge the gap between corporate environment and free market because we understand both worlds and strategically use the synergies from aviation expertise and small business proximity. Our strength lies in highly secure IT systems in real-time operation. This expertise makes us a resilient, reliable partner far beyond the airport industry.
Wirtschaftsforum: What does your business look like today?
Tim Cappelmann: With about 300 employees at eight locations and a turnover of 80 million EUR—mainly in the non-aviation sector—we serve as a full-range IT provider for our parent companies. In the open market, we focus on security: IT and information security, data protection, and physical security, but also risk management for specific technologies are in demand. New tools like ChatGPT are powerful but can also be dangerous in the wrong context. Our approach: no prohibitions, but precise usage rules, technically secured and embedded in the organization's processes, because without a stable security foundation, digitalization is not justifiable.
Wirtschaftsforum: What role does AirIT play in incidents like cyber attacks?
Tim Cappelmann: In such cases, we are digital first responders, with contractually defined response times. Together with the police or BSI, we support IT forensics, recovery, and root cause analysis. Such experiences also flow into our preventive measures.
Wirtschaftsforum: What distinguishes AirITSystems from other IT service providers?
Tim Cappelmann: Our unique selling point is the holistic approach: We consult, plan, and operate IT security 24/7, interdisciplinary and on equal footing. It starts with standard-compliant analysis and consultation, such as according to ISO 27001 or industry-specific standards, goes through technical implementation to operational management, for example, in Security Operations Centers. We combine technical knowledge, process understanding, and governance – not many can achieve that.
Wirtschaftsforum: Can it be said that IT security becomes a fundamental prerequisite for digitalization?
Tim Cappelmann: Yes, absolutely. With every digital interface, the attack surface increases. Those, for example, working in real-time in hospitals or industry, need a secure IT foundation. Otherwise, you are digitalizing the risks as well. The market for security is growing, as is the awareness of data sovereignty, also due to geopolitical tensions. At the same time, the shortage of skilled workers becomes a bottleneck: those who recruit the best talent remain competitive. Therefore, we focus on our own Academy, continuous education, and long-term employee retention.