Germany’s transportation sector is a critical backbone of both commerce and daily life, spanning rail, urban transit, and freight networks. As these systems digitize, cybersecurity has become essential to protecting operational technology, customer data, and infrastructure from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. Transportation companies must balance security, regulatory compliance, and seamless service delivery while modernizing their IT and OT systems. The CISOs leading these efforts play a vital role in ensuring safety, resilience, and reliability, making them key figures in shaping Germany’s secure and connected transportation landscape. Below are some of the top CISOs driving cybersecurity excellence in German transportation.

René Beiler — Chief Information Security Officer, S-Bahn Berlin GmbH

René Beiler currently serves as Chief Information Security Officer at S-Bahn Berlin GmbH, overseeing cybersecurity for one of Germany’s busiest urban rail networks. With extensive experience in IT and security management across multiple industries, René has built strong capabilities in risk management, incident response, and infrastructure protection. Prior to S-Bahn Berlin, he held senior roles at Ratepay and The Unbelievable Machine Company GmbH, where he focused on information security strategy, team leadership, and operational resilience. René began his career with system administration and IT roles at Digitas Pixelpark and relevantive AG, honing a deep technical foundation. His leadership is characterized by bridging strategic planning with hands-on execution, ensuring that both IT and OT environments remain secure while supporting Berlin’s complex transit operations.

Robert Felber — Chief Information Security Officer, Hamburger Hochbahn AG

Robert Felber leads information security at Hamburger Hochbahn AG, Hamburg’s primary public transport operator. He is responsible for safeguarding operational systems, implementing IT security policies, and managing risk across the organization. Before joining Hochbahn, Robert was managing director at Cyvisory Group, specializing in Red Teaming and offensive security assessments, and led IT security consulting at iteratec, focusing on DevSecOps, threat modeling, and IT security advisory services. With a long career spanning architecture, consulting, and leadership roles, he combines strategic oversight with technical depth, ensuring secure operations for Hamburg’s urban mobility systems. Robert’s work integrates compliance, business continuity, and cybersecurity innovation to protect both passenger services and enterprise infrastructure.

Sophie Lange — IT Security and Critical Infrastructure Coordinator, Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG)

Sophie Lange coordinates IT security and critical infrastructure protection (KRITIS-IT) at BVG, Berlin’s public transport operator. In her role, she develops security policies, oversees IT risk assessments, and ensures the resilience of critical transit systems. Sophie’s background includes consulting in information security and data protection at Assecor GmbH, where she advised organizations on regulatory compliance and operational security. At BVG, she applies this expertise to secure both IT and OT environments, focusing on incident prevention, vulnerability management, and integration of security standards across the organization. Sophie is a key driver in strengthening BVG’s cybersecurity posture while maintaining reliable, uninterrupted public transport services.

Alexander Penack — Chief Information Security Officer, DB Services GmbH, Deutsche Bahn

Alexander Penack serves as Chief Information Security Officer at DB Services GmbH, part of Deutsche Bahn, overseeing cybersecurity across enterprise IT and operational technology. His responsibilities include IT risk management, compliance with ISO 27001 standards, and ensuring secure operations across complex service and mobility networks. Prior to his current role, Alexander led IT project management and team leadership initiatives at DB Services, gaining deep insight into enterprise systems, infrastructure, and cloud services. Earlier in his career, he worked in technical consultancy and system orchestration at Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Teamleader CRM, developing expertise in automation, security processes, and IT governance. Alexander’s leadership ensures Deutsche Bahn’s services remain resilient, secure, and aligned with modern cybersecurity frameworks.

Securing Germany’s Transportation Networks

The CISOs leading German transportation organizations operate at the intersection of technology, operations, and safety. Their work protects critical infrastructure, ensures regulatory compliance, and supports the ongoing digital transformation of rail and urban mobility systems. As cyber threats evolve, these leaders are not only safeguarding networks and data but also enabling innovation, reliability, and efficiency in one of Germany’s most essential industries.