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Secure Spare Parts Pricing: MARKT-PILOT's Commitment to Data Protection

Written by MARKT-PILOT | Jul 17, 2025 8:00:00 AM

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Spare parts prices, purchasing and sales data as well as sales quantities are strategically relevant information for machine manufacturers. A data leak can have serious consequences: price dumping by competitors, loss of market share, damage to reputation and even legal consequences. According to a recent VDMA study, around one in four companies in the machine and plant manufacturing sector has been affected by a serious safety incident in the past two years. The damage caused by cyber-attacks and product piracy adds up to over 4.1 billion euros annually.1) 

Regulatory Shifts and Rising Threats: The New Data Security Landscape 

Another aspect that underlines the relevance of data security in the parts and service business is the increasing regulation due to new laws such as the EU Data Act and the NIS2 Directive. The EU Data Act, which will come into force in September 2025, obliges machine builders to provide operational data in a structured and secure manner – a paradigm shift that places the highest demands on data management and protection. Meanwhile, the number of cyberattacks in the machine manufacturing industry continues to rise. According to recent analyses, the industry experienced a record number of ransomware attacks in 2024, marking a 13 percent increase compared to the previous year.  Medium-sized companies are particularly affected because they often need to catch up when it comes to modern protection mechanisms.2)

For MARKT-PILOT, a SaaS (Software as a Service) provider for market-oriented pricing in machine and plant manufacturing, continuous investments in security technologies and adaptation to new legal requirements are essential.  

Protecting Sensitive Data: MARKT-PILOT’s Security Framework  

Spare parts pricing not only processes publicly available information, but also highly sensitive customer data such as internal part numbers, purchase and sales prices as well as offer details. This information must be protected not just once, but continuously throughout the whole pricing process. Unsufficient protection can lead to alternative parts suppliers making targeted price adjustments, thus securing a competitive advantage over machine manufacturers (OEMs). 

Therefore, MARKT-PILOT established comprehensive measures to protect customer data at an early stage. The company is certified according to ISO 27001, an internationally recognized standard for information security management systems (ISMS). However, this certification is not a destination; it's a component of an ongoing improvement process. 

The company's security measures include, but are not limited to:  

  • Secure Development Lifecycle (SDLC): Security considerations are integrated into software development from the very beginning. 
  • Patch management: Regular updates and rapid remediation of vulnerabilities on all systems – from endpoints to cloud infrastructure 
  • Network separation: Strict separation of production and development environments so that developers do not have access to production data. 
  • Business continuity and disaster recovery: Regular backups, even offline, and detailed action plans ensure the availability of data in the event of an emergency.
  • Multi-factor authentication (MFA) and identity management: Clear separation of roles and additional authentication mechanisms prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data. 
  • Data classification and retention policies: Data is classified according to protection requirements, and access is strictly regulated accordingly. 
  • Regular penetration tests and security scans: External experts check the systems for vulnerabilities, which are immediately remedied. 

Cloud Power Meets Human Factor: Building a Culture of Security

MARKT-PILOT uses the cloud infrastructures of Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services. These providers have extensive certifications and offer a level of security that would be difficult for medium-sized companies to achieve on their own. The "cloud" also enables rapid scalability and the implementation of current security standards.   

The fact is: The human factor remains one of the biggest weaknesses in IT security. According to a VDMA study, social engineering and human error continue to be the biggest cyber threats for companies.3) MARKT-PILOT therefore relies on regular training and awareness programs to sensitize employees to current threats such as phishing. 

With its comprehensive measures, MARKT-PILOT is sharpening its profile as a trustworthy service provider for secure spare parts pricing in machine manufacturing. Customers can rest assured that their data is in safe hands with MARKT-PILOT, as the company focuses on transparency, responsibility and reliability. 

The ISO 27001 certification and the comprehensive security measures strengthen customers' trust in MARKT-PILOT. For many machine manufacturers, a demonstrably high level of protection is now an absolute must-have criterion when selecting service providers for the service and spare parts business. The certification also simplifies audits of various kinds on the customer side and gives MARKT-PILOT a decisive competitive advantage.  

Security as a Competitive Edge  

The focus on data security also has a positive effect internally: processes become more stringent, risks are minimized, and the company remains able to act in the face of increasing cyber threats. Kai Wiemer, VP Engineering and CISO at MARKT-PILOT, emphasizes: "Information security is a top priority at MARKT-PILOT. It is practically a part of our DNA." 

MARKT-PILOT is already preparing for further requirements, such as the SOC 2 audit for the US market. The introduction of a "Trust Center" to further strengthen customer trust is also planned. The challenges remain big: In 2024, 5.6 billion user accounts were compromised worldwide – a 7.6-fold increase compared to the previous year. With 135 million accounts affected, Germany ranks fifth on the scale of the countries most affected by security incidents.  

Data security in spare parts pricing is therefore not a marginal issue, but a central success factor for machine manufacturing companies. MARKT-PILOT shows how comprehensive security measures, continuous development and a clear commitment to information security can strengthen customer trust and ensure competitiveness. Kai Wiemer: "With the certification, we have committed ourselves to a continuous improvement process and to provide customers with solutions that always focus on information security."  

 

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