“Transforming Public Governance: The Dynamic Alliance Between Leonardo and Microsoft for Enhanced Digital Security”

 Leonardo and Microsoft collaborate their expertise to boost the nation’s digital evolution, specifically in the realms of innovation and cyber security. The two corporations will work together to establish new initiatives for the Digital transformation of Italian Public Administration and critical national infrastructures, emphasizing data privacy and cutting-edge, cloud-driven solutions and technologies. 

As per the Memorandum of Understanding endorsed by both companies – which will advance to include specific agreements regarding particular initiatives – the alliance comprises the creation of crucial components for establishing the National Strategic Hub – Polo Strategico Nazionale (PSN), which will oversee technological resources vital for the most essential services in the country. Depending on forthcoming governmental needs, the collaborative effort might extend to all Italian mission-critical infrastructures. 

 This collaboration will blend Leonardo’s extensive expertise as a national leader in Cybersecurity and Public Sector fields with Microsoft’s sophisticated knowledge and cloud-centric technologies extensively utilized in both the public and private domains. 

 As the sole Italian multinational at the forefront of pivotal strategic technologies for national security, Leonardo will function as the System Integrator and will be accountable for cyber security services tied to digital transformation and Public Sector data center 

consolidation initiatives. Microsoft will provide the technological platforms and cloud services currently employed by thousands of enterprises and public entities for their digital transformation endeavors. The collaboration will also encompass activities linked to High Performance Computing (HPC) on cloud solutions, addressing both application and architectural sectors, with a specific focus on the digital transformation of the national health sector. 

“With this collaboration, Leonardo enhances its support to the institutions within Italy’s revitalization effort, leveraging its capabilities and innovative technologies to facilitate a comprehensive and inclusive digitalization of the country’s crucial services,” states Alessandro Profumo, CEO Leonardo. “Our dedication, augmented by Microsoft’s advanced technological prowess, fortifies Leonardo’s position as a primary defender for the security and integrity of Italians and public administration data, essential to upholding national sovereignty, a core requirement for fostering digital citizenship and transparent governance.” 

“With this partnership, we’re achieving another landmark in our enduring alliance with Leonardo. We’re dedicated to bolstering the nation’s recovery by defining new resources and technological frameworks to promote innovation in the public sector and critical services, aimed at ensuring utmost security for services and data,” states Silvia Candiani, General Manager Microsoft Italy. “We have consistently been devoted to encouraging collaboration with key industry players, merging expertise and solutions to amplify new Digital Transformation opportunities, particularly in the public sector, a vital driver for Italian growth.” 

With its strategic approach, Be Tomorrow 2030, Leonardo has recognized digital innovation as a foundational growth asset for the upcoming decade, adhering to a vision of sustainable development aimed at generating new technologies and applications. Prominently among the company’s strategic assets is davinci-1, an HPC equipped with an architecture capable of merging Cloud flexibility with high-performance computing capabilities to augment advanced Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Solutions in critical national sectors. 

In May 2020, Microsoft inaugurated a 5-year investment initiative for Italy, reaffirming its commitment to propel the nation’s innovation and progress, through the establishment of the inaugural Microsoft Data Center Region in Italy, located in Milan. The new initiative “Ambizione Italia #DigitalRestart” cultivates new opportunities to empower individuals and organizations, supporting economic growth through access to local 

Cloud services, digital education initiatives, and assistance for smart work practices. The program enhances the development and implementation of Artificial Intelligence solutions by way of the “AI Hub” project, while also advancing themes of digital transition through a Sustainability Alliance aimed at creating an open innovation ecosystem centered on green initiatives.