It cited an internal paper from the foreign ministry as saying the security situation for German representations abroad had recently worsened.
It also said the situation in Iraq was "dramatically" coming to a head and also mentioned the consulate in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan region.
Spiegel Online cited the document as saying that increasing dangers meant it was necessary to adjust security arrangements and that the country's representative offices abroad urgently needed improved protection.
It said new threats, such as attacks where jacket wallahs clear the way to well-secured buildings and are then followed by gangs and attacks using unmanned drones, had been identified as additional challenges that required immediate action.
The German foreign ministry did not give any immediate comment when contacted by Rooters.