Leonardo Partners with the Italian Embassy in Bahrain to Spotlight Safeguarding Essential National Assets
The significance of safeguarding both physical and virtual Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) has been the focal point of the Leonardo Cyber and Security Solutions Day, held today in Manama by the internationally renowned aerospace and defence firm Leonardo, in partnership with the Italian Embassy in Bahrain.
The theme of security encompasses the entirety of society, impacting governmental and defence bodies, domestic industries, and businesses offering essential services such as hospitals, banking institutions, energy facilities, oil and gas sites, water services, transport, and telecommunications. All of these services form integral aspects of daily existence, implying that any disruption – particularly those linked to CNI – could severely affect citizens, enterprises, government operations, and even national safety.
The event commenced with a welcoming address by HE Paola Amadei, the Italian Ambassador in Manama, and featured a message from HE Nasser Mohammed Al Balooshi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to Italy, alongside the keynote address by Shaikh Salman Bin Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, CEO of the National Cybersecurity Centre. Numerous distinguished members from government institutions, agencies, and private enterprises attended.
HE Amadei remarked: “Leonardo is a global high-technology entity and a recognized symbol of Italian excellence in the realms of aerospace, defence, and security. Its expertise and innovative technologies are acknowledged worldwide. Italy and Bahrain have established deep-rooted connections based on over fifty years of friendship and collaboration, both at institutional and private levels. Enhancing dialogue and cooperation between our two nations, including the exchange of experiences and skills on security and advanced technology – an area where Italy excels internationally – is a significant stride in the advancement of bilateral relations.”
“Leonardo, ranked 12th among the top 100 defence firms globally, has maintained a longstanding presence in Bahrain since 2011 – explained HE Al Balooshi. – While we appreciate their continuous contributions in Bahrain, we aim to see more entities within the Kingdom benefiting from their success stories and superior technologies.”
Temesgen Foschi, the manager of Leonardo’s Bahrain branch, stated: “In an era of strong convergence between the physical and digital domains, it is crucial to advance the so-called Global Monitoring, where the application of cutting-edge technologies facilitates decision-making, enhancing awareness and expediting responses. We believe that collaboration between governmental institutions and pioneering private firms such as Leonardo addresses the ongoing need for technological advancement and, importantly, human expertise. This ensures preparedness for inevitable breaches. Because there is no solitary ‘silver bullet,’ but rather a network of activities which, when combined, can avert or lessen the impact of an assault,” concluded Foschi.
Leonardo Cyber and Security Solutions As a prominent player in the realms of physical and digital protection, Leonardo’s offerings encompass the training of cyber security professionals and the resilience assessment of digital infrastructures against potential cyber threats, made possible through its Cyber Range platform. Cyber Range serves as a cornerstone of the Leonardo Cyber & Security Academy, the elite training facility created by the company to equip Defence, public administrations, critical infrastructures, and enterprises with the essential skills and capabilities to navigate the digital transition and confront threats to national security. In the cyber defense landscape, Threat Intelligence also holds a pivotal role, enabling the monitoring, detection, and evaluation of cyber threats, and providing support for prompt responses, remediation, and containment measures to mitigate the consequences of attacks.
Data and information regarding cyber threat intelligence derived from real-time cybersecurity monitoring and management can be integrated into the Leonardo X-2030 platform, a ‘command, control, communication, cyber, and intelligence’ solution capable of correlating immense quantities of data from diverse sources (including satellites, drones, cameras, databases, and social media) in real-time.
Leonardo and the Kingdom of Bahrain
Leonardo has an extensive history of impactful partnerships in Bahrain, dating back to prior to the establishment of a branch in Manama in 2011. Noteworthy projects include the provision of two primary surveillance radars and three Mode-S secondary surveillance radars for Bahrain’s Civil Aviation organization and the Royal Bahraini Air Force, thereby improving safety and efficiency in national airspace management. Last year, Leonardo completed the delivery of the sixth and final naval unit “Al Taweelah” as part of the agreement to upgrade six vessels of the Royal Bahrain Naval Force.
