NATO Entrusts Leonardo and Accenture with Cloud Warfare – A Replicable Model for Italy's Security

In the current geopolitical scenario, characterized by increasingly contested operational domains and a hybrid war constantly fought in cyberspace, NATO takes a decisive step towards digital modernization. The Atlantic Alliance has formalized the awarding of a contract estimated at 200 million euros to a consortium led by Accenture with Leonardo as a strategic technology partner.

The seven-year agreement concerns the implementation of the Protected Business Network (PBN) program, the infrastructure that will form the backbone of the Alliance's classified operations. But beyond the NATO perimeter, the project aims to become a strategic blueprint, replicable for strengthening the Nation's critical digital infrastructures.

The PBN: A Digital Backbone for Collective Security

The Protected Business Network is not just an IT infrastructure, but an operational enabler. Designed to replace legacy systems, the PBN will provide a modern, standardized, and scalable cloud environment capable of securely connecting approximately 29,000 NATO users. The goal is to ensure that decision-makers and military personnel can communicate and access sensitive data with maximum speed, regardless of the domain (land, air, naval, space, or cyber) in which they operate.

Leonardo's Role: Sovereignty and Zero Trust Architecture

Within this partnership, Leonardo confirms its leading role in managing mission-critical systems. The Italian group will not only design the platform but will implement a Zero Trust architecture protected by its own Global Cybersec Platform.

This is a multi-agent ecosystem based on artificial intelligence, capable of monitoring, detecting, and neutralizing threats in real-time. This approach not only provides the Alliance with advanced defense but also sets a technological standard that Leonardo can apply to protect the most sensitive national assets.

A Paradigm Shift: The Cloud as a Strategic Asset

"The PBN is a decisive step towards an increasingly connected and data-driven organization," said Dylan Browne, general manager of the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA).

For Accenture, a key partner in this transformation process, the challenge lies in integrating the speed of the cloud with the stringent security needs of the Defense sector. For Leonardo, the commitment translates into consolidating its position as a reference system integrator, capable of exporting models of excellence.

Why It Is a Replicable Model for Italy

The value of this initiative for the Italian system lies in its scalability. The PBN demonstrates that it is possible to combine:

• Digital Sovereignty: The use of Defence-grade technologies developed in-house to reduce dependence on foreign operators.
• Interoperability: The ability to make heterogeneous systems communicate in a single protected environment.
• Proactive Resilience: The adoption of artificial intelligence and data analytics (such as the Forge2Know and genesiX suites) to predict and prevent threats before they impact operational continuity.

The know-how gained in the PBN program thus represents a successful "format." Applying this model to Defense and national strategic companies would allow Italy to drastically elevate its cyber posture, ensuring that the country's infrastructures are as resilient as those used for the collective defense of the Alliance.