The first entirely digital event run by Leonardo, in collaboration with A.I.P.S.A (the Italian Association of Business Security Professionals) has successfully concluded. The event was held to highlight the “Evolution of cyber risks and their impact upon the lives of Italian companies and citizens”.

Two topics were central to the debate: the importance of culture and training to cyber security and the urgency of secure digital transformation, the latter being particularly relevant due to the acceleration of digitalization during the Covid-19 emergency. An additional point of discussion focused on crisis management, the ability of a company to respond promptly and efficiently manage a crisis in order to preserve its entire value chain. Here, the importance of rigorous preliminary planning, constant preparation and threat monitoring were highlighted. 

The event was introduced by Barbara Poggiali, Managing Director of Leonardo’s Cyber Security Division, who shared the company's vision on the security issue and explained how the past few months have seen an exponential growth in cyber risk. This was followed by presentations from Andrea Chittaro, president of AIPSA, and Gabriele Faggioli, President of CLUSIT (the Italian Association for IT Security). 

One of the key points that emerged from the event was that the Covid-19 emergency has seen a rise in cyber attacks carried out by criminals against certain targets. Between February and April, Leonardo's Security Operation Centers (SOCs) in Chieti (photo) and Bristol counted more than 230,000 malevolent “Coronavirus” campaigns worldwide, of which 6% targeted Italy, with a particular focus on the pharmaceutical industry. 

“The current scenario requires that we reflect upon and update our approach towards a culture of safety. In an increasingly interconnected digital ecosystem, safety and security must be understood in a global sense. This is fundamental to safeguarding the resilience and growth of a company”, commented Barbara Poggiali.

“We mustn’t consider cyber security as purely technological, but rather as part of a multidisciplinary process and a cultural approach, which will allow us to be ready to face the challenges of a continuously evolving environment",” she added.

The conference participants were also able to take part in a virtual guided tour of Leonardo’s “Next Generation Security Operation Center” in Chieti, the hub through which Leonardo monitors the cyber threat and manages cyber attacks 24 hours a day. Here, over 150 highly-specialized expert analysts are supported by a powerful supercomputer and advanced technologies including automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Leonardo, a global high-technology company, is among the top ten world players in Aerospace, Defense and Security and Italy’s main industrial company. Organized into five business divisions, Leonardo has a significant industrial presence in Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland and the USA, where it also operates through subsidiaries such as Leonardo DRS (defense electronics), and joint ventures and partnerships: ATR, MBDA, Telespazio, Thales Alenia Space and Avio.

Leonardo competes in the most important international markets by leveraging its areas of technological and product leadership (Helicopters, Aircraft, Aerostructures, Electronics, Cyber Security and Space).

Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (LDO), in 2019 Leonardo recorded consolidated revenues of €13.8 billion and invested €1.5 billion in Research and Development.

The Group has been part of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) since 2010 and became Industry leader of Aerospace & Defense sector of DJSI in 2019.