The company behind the groupios Mare Cloud

We don't just develop IT solutions - we take responsibility for their successful implementation and lasting impact.

With the groupios Mare Cloud, our own software development, years of project experience, and personal support, we accompany our customers from strategy through implementation to secure operations.

step3IT GmbH develops, integrates, and operates secure IT solutions for companies, public administrations, and managed service providers.

Workstation with the groupios Mare Cloud in front of the step3IT GmbH logo

The company behind the groupios Mare Cloud

Trust isn't created through promises. Trust is created through experience.

For over 10 years, step3IT GmbH has been developing and operating secure IT solutions for companies, public sector clients, and managed service providers. Based in Neumünster, Schleswig-Holstein, we combine our own software development, cybersecurity, managed services for SMBs, public administrations, cities, municipalities, and critical infrastructure operators, and demanding project management into a holistic IT strategy.

Our international customers don't just choose modern technologies - they choose a partner who takes responsibility. From the first consultation through the planning of complex IT projects to secure operations, we accompany our customers with personal commitment and a fixed point of contact.

Experience that creates security.

Our own technology

groupios is an in-house development of step3IT GmbH. This lets us specifically continue developing functions, interfaces, and security mechanisms.

Consulting and integration

We analyze existing IT landscapes and integrate the Mare Cloud into existing email, groupware, backup, and security infrastructures.

Operations and managed services

On request, our team takes over implementation, monitoring, maintenance, updates, and support.

Personal responsibility

No anonymous call center and no changing points of contact. Customers and partners are looked after by a fixed team of experts.

For us, digital sovereignty is more than technology.

step3IT GmbH is dedicated to researching and developing its own technologies, integrating existing systems, and accompanying complex transformation projects.

With the groupios Mare Cloud, developed and operated 100% in Germany, we offer an integrated platform that efficiently combines communication, collaboration, data protection, and cybersecurity. Developed in Germany and operated to the highest security and quality standards. We also take long-term responsibility for secure operations with no use of hyperscaler environments.

Our values.

Taking responsibility

We accompany projects long-term and stand personally by our customers' side even after go-live.

Living security

For us, cybersecurity isn't a single product but a consistent concept - from planning through operations.

Building partnerships

We focus on long-term collaboration rather than short-term projects.

Shaping innovation

Our own software development lets us quickly implement new requirements and continuously advance our solutions.

Our solution portfolio.

Alongside the secure groupios Mare Cloud, our portfolio also includes Matrix42's enterprise service management solutions and the intelligent AI assistant Sally AI - for an IT infrastructure that's efficient, intelligent, and comprehensively protected.

Email security & data sovereignty - your future under German sails. Email Security Gateway, Groupware / collaboration, S/MIME encryption, Email archiving, Cloud2Cloud Backup, Multi-Node Backup. Comprehensive protection from cyber threats: Powerful backup functions, Multi-tenant administration, Flexible integration into existing structures. KI generiert

Complementary technologies in the portfolio

Matrix42

Sally AI

Digital sovereignty begins with the right change management

We support you on your path to sustainable digital sovereignty. Many companies, cities, municipalities, and public administrations want to reduce their dependency on international cloud platforms. But switching to open, sovereign solutions is far more than a software swap. It changes processes, ways of working, and how employees collaborate. step3IT GmbH accompanies this transformation holistically - from strategy through the technical migration project to successful change management. Only when employees are actively involved in the process of digital sovereignty can lasting success and acceptance be achieved. KI generiert

Our services for your digital sovereignty

Strategic consulting - we transform organizations We accompany companies, public administrations, cities, municipalities, and critical infrastructure organizations on their path to digital sovereignty - from analysis and change management through migration from Microsoft 365® to groupios, Nextcloud, or LibreOffice, to secure operations with managed services, support, monitoring, and continuous development. Why is change management so important when switching from Microsoft 365®? Technical migration alone isn't enough. New ways of working must be understood, accepted, and successfully used day to day. That's why step3IT GmbH doesn't just accompany the technical rollout of new solutions - we also support organizations with communication, training, and organizational change, so digital sovereignty succeeds sustainably. To minimize dependencies, loss of control, lack of transparency, and risk, we recommend making changes and switches more frequently. Thanks to our years of experience in change management, we can support you professionally along the way. KI generiert

Our development

Experience that grows. Responsibility that stays.

Mountain trail in morning light, leading over a ridge into the distance.

Since our founding, we've pursued a clear goal: strengthening companies and public sector clients with secure, reliable, and sovereign IT solutions.

Our path is shaped by innovation, trust, and long-term partnerships.

  1. 2015

    Founding

    step3IT GmbH founded in Neumünster

  2. 2015 – 2018

    Focus and buildup

    Focus on IT infrastructure, project management, and managed services.

  3. 2019

    Cybersecurity in focus

    Expanded our cybersecurity portfolio and protection against new threats

  4. 2021

    Our own solution

    Developed the groupios solution for communication, security, and collaboration.

  5. 2023

    Integration and further development

    Integrated further solutions and continuously expanded the platform

  6. 2025

    Mare Cloud as a platform

    Built the groupios Mare Cloud as an integrated platform for communication, security, and backup

  7. Today

    Your partner for the future

    Our own cloud platform, cybersecurity, managed services, and project management - all from a single source

NUMBERS THAT BUILD TRUST

Over 10 years

Of experience in cybersecurity

Numerous projects

Successfully implemented in over 200 companies, public institutions, and critical infrastructure operators

100% in Germany

Development, hosting, and support in German data centers

Personal support

Fixed points of contact, directly reachable, no detours

Technology changes. Trust remains.

We stay true to our course - with passion, expertise, and the commitment to keep guiding our customers safely, tomorrow too.

Mare Cloud brings all security solutions together in a single platform.

Combine our various building blocks for maximum data sovereignty.

Email Security Gateway

Protection from spam, malware, and ransomware – with automatic S/MIME encryption and central certificate management.

Discover the gateway

S/MIME Encryption

Legally compliant S/MIME encryption with central certificate management – automated, with no effort for users.

Discover encryption

Email Archiving

Audit-proof archiving compliant with GDPR and GoBD – legally compliant long-term storage for all your previously encrypted emails.

View archiving

Cloud2Cloud Backup

Completely vendor-independent backup, for example of Microsoft 365®, OneDrive®, Teams®, SharePoint®, Gmail®, and Google Drive®.

View backup solution

Multi-Node Backup

Maximum resilience through distributed backup architecture with no central point of failure – ideal for business-critical data, for example.

Discover the backup strategy

Frequently asked questions from executives and IT managers

Why should a company choose step3IT GmbH?

step3IT GmbH combines over ten years of experience in cybersecurity, managed services, and IT project management with the development of its own software solutions. With the groupios Mare Cloud, we offer a platform fully developed and operated in Germany for secure communication, digital collaboration, email security, and data protection. Over 200 international customers receive consulting, implementation, operations, and support from a single source - with fixed points of contact and long-term responsibility.

What sets step3IT GmbH apart from classic IT systems houses?

Unlike many classic systems houses, step3IT GmbH develops its own technologies and platforms. With the groupios Mare Cloud, we have our own cloud solution for communication, collaboration, cybersecurity, and backup. In addition, we market proven technologies such as Matrix42 or Sally AI wherever they offer our customers additional value. This creates holistic solutions instead of individual products.

Which organizations benefit from step3IT GmbH's solutions?

Our solutions are aimed at companies of every size, public administrations, cities and municipalities, municipal data centers, managed service providers (MSPs), critical infrastructure operators, and organizations with high requirements for data protection, information security, and digital sovereignty. Especially where availability, security, and compliance are decisive, the groupios Mare Cloud offers a powerful alternative to international cloud platforms.

What services does step3IT GmbH offer?

step3IT GmbH develops, integrates, and operates modern IT solutions in the following areas:

  • Secure groupware and collaboration
  • Email security and anti-spam gateway
  • S/MIME email encryption
  • Email archiving
  • Cloud2Cloud Backup
  • Multi-Node Backup
  • Managed services
  • Cybersecurity
  • IT project and change management
  • Enterprise service management with Matrix42
  • AI-powered process automation with Sally AI

All solutions are individually planned, integrated, and supported long-term.

Why does step3IT GmbH focus on digital sovereignty and German cloud technology?

For us, digital sovereignty means that companies and public sector clients retain control over their data, communication channels, and IT infrastructure. That’s why step3IT GmbH develops and operates the groupios Mare Cloud in Germany and applies the highest standards in data protection, information security, and compliance. Our solutions provide a secure alternative to international hyperscalers and help organizations reliably meet regulatory requirements.

Cast off now!

Get to know step3IT.

Want to know how we can accompany your organization on the path to digital sovereignty? Write to us - you'll reach a fixed point of contact, not a call center.

  • Fixed point of contact instead of a hotline
  • Over 200 completed projects
  • Development, hosting, and support in Germany

Prefer to talk directly?

Talk to our experts

* Required fields

Ready for digital sovereignty?

Protect communication, data and collaboration with a platform developed and operated entirely in Germany.