The event, organized by Leonardo with the patronage of the Cyber Security Council of the United Arab Emirates, saw the participation of cyber security experts such as Prof. Roberto Baldoni and SE Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al-Kuwaiti and hosted stories and testimonies of illustrious representatives of Italian and Emirati institutions, industry and academia
The Cyber Game, with the participation of security professionals and students from the two countries, was an opportunity to discuss the challenges of cyber security for national critical infrastructures and the importance of training and education in the sector.
Dubai, 03/02/2022 - Leonardo today celebrated the Cyber Game Award on the stage of the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, promoting the debate on the importance of the systemic approach and training to face the challenges of cyber security. The Cyber Game was a real practical exercise that involved cyber security professionals of strategic Italian and Emirati infrastructures, universities and representatives of the research world of the two countries.
Sponsored by the Cyber Security Council of the United Arab Emirates, the event also provided an opportunity to discuss the challenges of cyberspace with prestigious experts such as Roberto Baldoni, Director General of the National Cybersecurity Agency, SE Mohamed Hamad Al-Kuwaiti , head of Cyber Security at the Government of the United Arab Emirates, Marwan Alzarouni, Director of the Information Services Office, at the Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC), as well as Tommaso Profeta, Managing Director of Leonardo's Cyber Security Division.
“Digital transformation is generating new cyber threats that are becoming more and more pervasive and ubiquitous, targeting both individuals and organizations around the world. To prevent, mitigate and respond quickly to these threats, qualified personnel and international cooperation are essential and that is why I welcome today's initiative ”said Prof. Roberto Baldoni, Director General of the National Cybersecurity Agency. “Leonardo's Cyber Game, in which illustrious partners from the United Arab Emirates and Italy took part, is exactly at the center of this process. The involvement of students is also fundamental to train a new generation of people capable of facing the threats we face ".
“Cutting-edge technologies and procedures, although necessary, are not sufficient to guarantee cyber security” commented Tommaso Profeta, Managing Director of Leonardo's Cyber Security Division. “The human element is fundamental and the continuous training of all actors involved in national security is essential to recognize and address risks. This is why Leonardo has developed dedicated platforms to train security operators and test digital infrastructures ". Tommaso Profeta then added, "Leonardo will shortly inaugurate his Cyber & Security Academy, a high-level training center on security issues that will exploit the distinctive ability of the company to operate in the main critical domains in the civil and military fields".
“We are happy to sponsor the Leonardo Cyber Game awards ceremony at Expo 2020 Dubai. Training and international collaboration are both fundamental for the cyber resilience of countries and strategic infrastructures, ”said SE Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al-Kuwaiti, head of Cyber Security of the UAE Government. "Our partnerships with global security companies such as Leonardo, as well as universities and the research sector, strengthen our commitment to keeping the UAE safe from cybercrime."
At the center of the event was the experience of a Cyber Game, organized and managed by Leonardo, the Italian company that is the reference partner of institutions and companies for the security of digital ecosystems and the resilience of strategic assets.
Using Leonardo's Cyber Range platform, which virtually reproduced a computer network of an industrial infrastructure, cyber security operators and students tested themselves trying to defend themselves from a simulated cyber attack. The four teams of "defenders" involved experts from the Italian company Maire Tecnimont; of Emirates Steel and Emirates Nuclear Energy (ENEC); the universities of the Emirates Khalifa University and United Arab Emirates University; and TeamItaly - the Italian CyberDefender team of the National Interuniversity Consortium for Informatics (CINI).
In fact, Leonardo is constantly committed to disseminating a solid culture of safety at national and supranational level, both among sector operators and among young people. A commitment that also aims to promote scientific citizenship, one of the pillars of Leonardo's sustainability plan to bring value not only to the company but also to citizens and the territories in which it operates.
The challenge offered Italian and Emirati stakeholders the opportunity to learn, discuss and share experiences in a sector, that of cyber security, which is becoming of fundamental importance for countries and citizens all over the world.
Leonardo's Cyber Range system has already been chosen by the Qatar Computing Research Institute for the training of cyber security operators and for assessing the resilience of digital infrastructures with respect to potential cyber attacks.
This is just one of Leonardo's international successes in the field of cyber security: there are over 5.000 networks and 70.000 cyber-protected users by the company in 130 countries. Among the most important contracts for cyber security, we recall the one with the NATO Communication and Information Agency and the one with the European Space Agency for the protection of space assets.
Leonardo's technologies - which has a branch in Abu Dhabi - have been contributing to the security of the United Arab Emirates for over fifty years. These include more than 100 helicopters, training aircraft, naval systems, secure communications solutions, and space technologies.