DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY · BFSG · EAA · WCAG 2.2 · ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITY

BFSG protection against warning letters with genuine assumption of liability – when it really matters, we stand firm.

Most providers in the field of digital accessibility sell tools. If you receive a warning letter, you’re on your own. Access Protect® goes further: we contractually assume liability for ensuring that your audited digital offerings comply with the BFSG. Should a warning letter or legal action arise due to a lack of accessibility, IFDB experts and partner law firms will handle the entire process. This is the protection against warning letters that a simple overlay or an automated scan is structurally unable to provide.

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How Access Protect® works – and why a genuine commitment to liability is more than just a promise.

Protection against warning letters is only worthwhile if it is built on a solid foundation. That is why Access Protect® is not a stand-alone product, but the result of a systematic process: first the evidence, then the protection.

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Step 01 –
The Access Ready® certificate as a basis

Access Protect® can only be booked once you have passed the Access Ready® audit — no exceptions. This is because we can only contractually guarantee the accessibility of your digital services once it has been documented by a reliable, in-depth audit.

Step 02 –
Active monitoring via Access Guard®

Protection remains active for as long as Access Guard® is running. Continuous monitoring ensures that the certified status is maintained even after each deployment. If monitoring ceases, the protective shield is deactivated — because liability without monitoring would be irresponsible.

Step 03 –
Contractually guaranteed assumption of liability

With Access Protect®, we contractually assume liability for the audited status. You do not receive vague assurances, but a clear contractual basis that you can rely on in the event of an emergency.

Step 04 –
In an emergency: We’ll take care of it

Should you receive a formal warning or face legal action due to a lack of accessibility, IFDB experts, working alongside specialist partner law firms, will handle the entire process. You won’t have to face the legal risk alone — we’ll be right by your side.

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Why an overlay can never assume this risk

There is a structural reason why pure overlay providers expressly exclude liability: a script that is superimposed on a website after the fact cannot fix the underlying code. If you do not ensure genuine accessibility, you cannot be held accountable for it. This is not a matter of opinion — it is stated in their own terms and conditions.

Access Protect® turns this relationship on its head. Because every protection measure is preceded by a genuine, in-depth audit carried out by human experts, we know the actual state of your digital offerings. And because we know this, we can vouch for it. This combination of robust evidence, continuous monitoring and contractual liability is unique in the DACH region.

For senior management, this means a significant reduction in burden: no comparison with an overlay, no hoping for the best, but a contractually guaranteed position. This is precisely why Access Protect® is not a cost item, it is a strategic safeguard against a specific business risk.

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ACCESS Protect® IN THE ECOSYSTEM

Security doesn’t happen on its own – the synergy of the Access Suite

Access Protect® is at the heart of the IFDB ecosystem — the point at which verification and monitoring translate into genuine security. It operates exclusively as part of a network, as this is the only way to ensure that liability coverage remains reliable and robust.

Access Ready®

is an essential prerequisite. Access Protect® cannot be booked without a successful in-depth audit and the resulting certificate. The certificate is your ticket in — it documents the condition for which we subsequently assume contractual liability.

Access Ready

Access Guard®

keeps the protection active. Continuous monitoring ensures that the certified status is maintained after every deployment. If Access Guard® is removed, the protective shield is automatically deactivated — the two products are inextricably linked.

Access Guard

Access Declare®

demonstrates legal compliance to external parties. Your accessibility statement is automatically kept up to date and, together with the certificate and the monitoring process, forms a seamless chain of evidence — exactly what matters in the event of an incident.

Designed for organisations that do not leave a specific risk to chance

  • Enterprise organisations and corporate groups,
    for whom a warning letter or legal action poses not only a financial risk but also a reputational one. For senior management who actively manage risks rather than simply waiting them out.
  • Risk management and compliance representatives,
    who are looking for a robust, contractually guaranteed solution — not a tool with a disclaimer in the small print.
  • Public institutions and B2G organisations,
    who are subject to special scrutiny and must ensure they are fully compliant with market surveillance authorities.
  • Companies with a high level of digital risk,
    whose business model relies heavily on accessible online services and for whom a legal standstill would have existential consequences.
Two women are engaged in a focused consultation, using documents and a laptop – contractual protection against warnings under the BFSG and liability cover for enterprises, compliance officers and B2G organisations in accordance with WCAG 2.2
FAQ

Frequently asked questions about
Access Protect®

No. Access Protect® is not a form of insurance, but a contractually guaranteed liability cover. Based on a reliable audit, we take responsibility for the documented accessibility of your digital services and, in the event of a warning letter or law suits, we will stand by your side alongside our partner law firms.

Should a formal warning or legal action be taken on the grounds of a lack of accessibility, IFDB experts and specialized partner law firms will handle the entire process — from the initial response through to the legal proceedings. The exact services provided are set out in the contract.

Because a genuine guarantee of liability requires credible evidence. Only if the accessibility of your digital services is documented by a genuine in-depth audit can we provide a contractual guarantee. Without this evidence, any such commitment would be worthless.

The protective shield expires with immediate effect. Continuous monitoring is the technical requirement for us to be able to confirm the certified status on an ongoing basis. Without monitoring, the basis for assuming liability does not apply.

This applies in particular to organisations for which a warning notice or legal complaint poses a tangible financial or reputational risk — typically large enterprises, corporate groups, public institutions and organisations with a high proportion of digital business.

No. Access Protect® requires a passed Access Ready® audit and an active Access Guard® subscription. This link is not a sales model, but the foundation for a reputable and credible liability coverage.

Overlay providers expressly exclude liability in their terms and conditions because a retrospective script does not provide genuine accessibility. Access Protect® is based on a genuine in-depth audit and therefore takes on precisely the responsibility that overlays are structurally unable to fulfil.

With the BFSG coming into force in June 2025, digital accessibility becomes mandatory for large parts of the economy. Breaches may be penalised by market surveillance authorities and result in warnings from competitors or organizations. The risk is real — and is increasing as public awareness of the issue grows.

The protection applies to the scope of the underlying Access Ready® audit. If mobile apps were included in the audit, they are covered. For documents, we recommend combining this with Access Doc® to ensure that this area is also covered.

Once the Access Ready® certificate has been issued and Access Guard® is active, the protection can be activated in contractual form. The exact lead time depends on the scope of your audit and will be clarified during the consultation.

Don't be on your own when it really matters.

A tool with a disclaimer will leave you high and dry when it really matters. Access Protect® gives you a contractually guaranteed position — backed by a genuine audit, active monitoring and a team that steps in when it really matters. Discuss with us how you can protect your business against risk.

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Enforcement of the BFSG and the risk of receiving a warning letter – what companies need to be aware of now

Since the Accessibility Enhancement Act came into force in June 2025, digital accessibility has been mandatory for large parts of the economy — and breaches are not without consequences. The legislation of the BFSG governs, amongst other things, enforcement by market surveillance authorities, which can order measures to be taken in the event of breaches. In addition, the Federal Centre of Expertise on Accessibility provides comprehensive information on the specific requirements and their implementation. For businesses, this means that the risk of receiving a warning letter or a formal complaint from the authorities is very real and is growing as public awareness of the issue increases.

Reliable protection therefore begins with a verifiable foundation. By documenting the actual status of your digital offerings through a certified in-depth audit and safeguarding this status through continuous monitoring, you lay the foundation on which Access Protect® builds its contractual liability coverage — should the need ever arise.