With Virtual Fort Knox (VFK), manufacturing companies are provided with efficient and secure access to software solutions which are independent of manufacturers. As the IT-backbone for Industry 4.0 solutions, VFK networks manufacturing companies with software providers and mechanical engineers through providing a secure cloud IT-infrastructure and an open marketplace environment for IT-services and applications. With the help of VFK, companies digitalise their production processes in order to execute their Industry 4.0 strategies. In doing so, they achieve a significant increase in efficiency. In this way, VFK solves current mid-sector IT problems in production. Software solutions can be intuitively implemented from now on and IT costs permanently reduced.