National defense: Companies are not well prepared for emergencies

• 62 percent of companies consider national defense to be relevant
• Only 36 percent have defined clear responsibilities for crisis situations
• Operational preparedness is still lacking in many companies
• 62 percent see national defense as a source of new business opportunities

Berlin, February 11, 2026

Many companies in Germany are inadequately prepared for security-related crisis situations, even though the majority clearly recognize their importance: 62 percent of companies consider the issue of national defense to be relevant to their business. At the same time, there are significant strategic and organizational gaps: only 27 percent have clearly defined geopolitical crisis scenarios, and 36 percent have no designated contact person or responsible unit. These are the findings of the study "National Defense in Transition" by KPMG in Germany, for which around 350 German executives from twelve industries were surveyed. 

Crisis management is widespread, but operational depth is lacking

Although 88 percent of companies have formal crisis or emergency management systems in place, in practice these are often reviewed too infrequently: 42 percent update their plans only once a year or even less often. Operational resilience measures remain limited in many cases. Only some companies (39 percent) have established robust emergency plans, physical protection measures (36 percent), or cybersecurity concepts (36 percent). Only around one-third (33 percent) raise awareness and train their workforce. 

Industry comparison shows major differences

Preparation for security-related crises varies greatly between industries. Companies in the energy supply, telecommunications, and digital infrastructure sectors are comparatively more likely to have defined responsibilities and emergency structures in place. In contrast, mechanical engineering, healthcare, and parts of the manufacturing industry are much more cautious. These sectors are more likely to lack robust scenarios, regular reviews, or clearly defined responsibilities. There is no discernible uniform industry logic; rather, there are differences in organizational maturity.

Security requirements open up economic opportunities

In addition to structural deficits, the study also opens up an economic perspective: more than half of the companies surveyed (62 percent) see new business opportunities in national defense. Respondents see particular potential in the areas of production, security, IT and digital systems, and research and development. On the other hand, slow government decision-making processes (44 percent), political uncertainties and planning uncertainties (42 percent), and high costs (41 percent) are slowing down implementation in companies.