SHD (Systemhaus Dresden), a prominent IT service provider based in Saxony, has been at the forefront of the IT industry since 1990.
Originally founded by Frank Karow and Falk Ambos after they completed their studies at the Technical University of Dresden, SHD quickly established itself as an independent entity following the fall of the Berlin Wall. Over the decades, the company has grown significantly, now employing 180 individuals and extending its influence beyond Saxony.
Leadership Transition and Continued Growth
SHD has undergone key leadership changes in recent years. Industrial engineer Marco Graef was appointed as managing director in 2021, having joined the company in 2018. By 2023, co-founder Falk Ambos stepped down from his managerial role, with Toralf Lips joining the leadership team in September 2024. In early 2025, Frank Karow also resigned from his position on the management board, yet continues to serve on the advisory board of SHD's parent company, ITTC Group. These transitions mark a new era of strategic growth for the Dresden-based IT services firm.
Advancements in Cybersecurity and IT Solutions
Since its inception, SHD has carved out a reputation as a cybersecurity specialist, providing consultancy and support on IT security, infrastructure, and cloud management to businesses, hospitals, and public institutions. The firm plays a notable role in professional forums, hosting initiatives such as the "KRITIS Roundtable," where participants discuss security regulation compliance, including the EU NIS2 directive. SHD has branched out with offices in Hamburg and Berlin, demonstrating its commitment to expanding its reach.
Strategic Alliance with NetApp
SHD has maintained a dynamic partnership with the storage provider NetApp since 1998
SHD has maintained a dynamic partnership with the storage provider NetApp since 1998. This relationship is supported by NetApp’s dedicated manager, currently Ulrike Zacheiß, who took over the role in 2024.
Regular meetings between the two companies focus on leveraging innovation and refining cooperative efforts. During a recent gathering in Dresden, SHD’s managing directors, along with their Head of Business Development, Udo Böhm, engaged with NetApp’s senior representatives to explore joint growth strategies.
Future Growth and Market Potential
SHD’s long-standing collaboration with NetApp aligns with both companies' goals to amplify their presence in the SME sector. "Our solution and service portfolio aligns with a large number of NetApp's top technology partners," stated Udo Böhm, reflecting on the partnership's enduring value. Marco Graef, SHD's CEO, emphasized their shared mission for growth: "We have a strong traditional presence in the SME sector and are now pursuing the clear goal together with NetApp of consistently realising growth potential there – to the mutual benefit of both parties."
Further commitment to NetApp’s technology is evident as SHD invests in the training of its workforce, enhancing its standing as a principal sales partner in Germany. "NetApp’s strategic focus on growth topics such as data security, data compliance, hybrid cloud services, and intelligent data infrastructure is an excellent fit for us as a system integrator and guarantees further joint growth," added Böhm, underscoring the synergistic goals of both organizations.
SHD (Systemhaus Dresden) has been operating as a systems integrator in Saxony and beyond since 1990. The two company founders have already handed over management to their successors.
Frank Karow and Falk Ambos studied information technology at the Technical University of Dresden – then still in East Germany – in the mid-1980s. When the Berlin Wall fell, they knew immediately that they wanted to become self-employed. As early as 1990, they founded Systemhaus Dresden GmbH (SHD), making SHD one of the first privately owned IT service providers in Saxony.
Dresden-based IT service provider
After ten years, the number of employees rose to 45; SHD now employs 180 people. At the end of 2021, Karow and Ambos promoted industrial engineer Marco Graef, who had been with SHD since 2018, to managing director. Ambos relinquished his position as managing director at SHD at the beginning of 2023, and since September 2024, Toralf Lips has been part of the management team of the Dresden-based IT service provider.
At the beginning of 2025, company founder Frank Karow also stepped down from the management board. However, as a member of the advisory board of SHD's parent company, the ITTC Group, he will remain connected to the Dresden-based IT service provider.
Implementing security regulations
Since its founding in 1990, SHD has developed into Saxony's leading cybersecurity specialist. The systems integrator now advises and supports private sector companies, hospitals, and public institutions on topics related to IT security, IT infrastructure, and cloud management.
Furthermore, the company is active in specialist forums and, for example, launched the "KRITIS Roundtable." There, hospitals nationwide share their experiences in implementing security regulations for critical infrastructure, such as the practical application of the EU NIS2 directive. And in the meantime, SHD has also established branches outside of Saxony: in Hamburg and Berlin.
Special business relationship
The Saxon systems integrator maintains a special business relationship with the storage provider NetApp, dating back to 1998. SHD is always supported by a dedicated NetApp manager. Ulrike Zacheiß took over this role in the fall of 2024.
Manufacturers and partners meet regularly in larger groups, as was the case at the end of April 2025 in Dresden. SHD's two managing directors, Toralf Lips and Marco Graef, participated in the on-site meeting – together with Udo Böhm, Head of Business Development and NetApp Alliance Manager at the IT service provider. NetApp sent Henning Rahe (Senior Director Partner Sales Germany), Ulrike Zacheiß (Partner Manager), Martin Gross (Manager Focus Partner Sales Germany), and Sebastian Hausmann (Senior Manager Solutions Engineering) to Dresden.
Capitalize on market opportunities
The discussion explored ways to jointly drive innovation, capitalize on market opportunities, and further develop the collaboration in a targeted manner. SHD manager Böhm has been responsible for the partnership with NetApp since 1998 and therefore knows very well what his customers expect from this provider: "Our solution and service portfolio aligns with a large number of NetApp's top technology partners," the manager stated.
NetApp's new partner manager, Zacheiß, is already looking forward to supporting SHD: "This partner has excellent technical expertise and, with over 25 years, is one of the oldest NetApp business partners in Germany."
Intelligent data infrastructure
“We have a strong traditional presence in the SME sector and are now pursuing the clear goal together with NetApp of consistently realising growth potential there – to the mutual benefit of both parties,” says SHD CEO Marco Graef .
His co-managing director, Toralf Lips, emphasises that through years of continuous investment in sales and technical training of their own employees – regarding NetApp products – they are now among the leading sales partners of the storage provider.
“NetApp’s strategic focus on growth topics such as data security, data compliance, hybrid cloud services and intelligent data infrastructure is an excellent fit for us as a system integrator and guarantees further joint growth,” adds SHD’s NetApp manager Böhm.
