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<\/p>\nWe at udis are a group of highly dedicated and motivated data protection advocates. When, starting in the early 1980s, computers ceased to be the exclusive domain of geeks and nerds and increasingly became an everyday tool for work, some of us were horrified to realize how naively this new desktop medium was being handled. People had no idea of the dangers this new form of data processing could pose to those affected\u2014or indeed to society as a whole. Such potential threats seemed too invisible, too unreal. Although larger companies had been required to appoint in-house data protection officers since 1978, these officers usually knew no more than their colleagues on the ground. <\/p>\n
Some of us therefore began thinking back then about what could be done to combat this rather dangerous lack of knowledge, and in the fall of 1987\u2014as the first in Germany, by the way\u2014we began training such data protection officers. Initially, this was done for many years as part of the curriculum at continuing education institutions in Ulm. In 1997, we took the leap into independence and founded udis, the Ulm Academy for Data Protection and IT Security. Initially, it was established as a registered association. <\/p>\n
In 2003, for practical reasons, we converted udis into a nonprofit GmbH. As part of this process, we also had to restructure our administration and give up our office in the basement of a single-family home. At TFU, we initially found a space in the attic that fit within our budget, which was still quite tight at the time. However, udis very quickly made a name for itself as the training center for certified, truly knowledgeable data protection officers \u201cbased on the Ulm Model.\u201d This success then made it possible for us to move into larger office space. At first, we were able to find a larger office in the attic; then we moved down one floor, until\u2014optimists that we are\u2014we finally arrived on the main floor of the building on Marlene-Dietrich-Stra\u00dfe. That\u2019s the big advantage of an office at the TFU: You can adapt your workspace to economic developments without much hassle, such as changing your address, etc. <\/p>\n
Startup founders are therefore advised not to lose faith in the success of their own ideas too quickly. It can take time for others to realize that you have something special to offer. Once the breakthrough comes, you may have to contend with copycats. But you\u2019ll also need strong nerves when it comes to finances: Not only does the order situation fluctuate, but customers\u2019 payment habits can also cause existential anxiety. For this reason, it\u2019s advisable to keep financial obligations as low as possible in the beginning.
It\u2019s great that you can rent space at the TFU at various price points and that there\u2019s also excellent advice available here for business novices like us. By the way, this includes advice on managing staff as well. Leading a team is a skill that has to be learned. We at udis have come to appreciate all of this very much. <\/p>\n
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We at udis are a group of highly dedicated … <\/p>\n