Cybercriminals try every day. Hundreds of attacks target our IT systems in an effort to cripple institutional websites, companies, and critical infrastructures. Yet, despite all this, Italy is holding its own. Bruno Frattasi, Director of the National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN), states, “The impact of these campaigns is truly minimal.”
Now, I should mention that I collaborate with ACN—the National Cybersecurity Agency of Italy—so some might think I’m biased. But these are objective facts. The attacks are real, and it’s evident that Italy is handling them better than in the past.
Take DDoS attacks, for example—those attempts to take a website offline by bombarding it with requests. Frattasi explains that in the past, such assaults could knock a portal offline for hours; today, any slowdown lasts only a few minutes or doesn’t occur at all. This means that, even though we’re being targeted, we’ve learned to defend ourselves more effectively.
But the issue isn’t just about websites going down. Cybersecurity isn’t an abstract concept—everything is connected now: airports, railways, hospitals, even traffic lights. If an attack breaches these systems, we face real consequences, including risks to people’s physical safety.
And here’s the critical point: are we investing enough in our protection? No. Currently, Italy allocates barely 0.1% of its GDP to cybersecurity—far too little for a country so exposed. However, things are starting to change: under the European NIS2 directive, 30,000 public entities and private companies will need to raise their digital security standards.
Cyber defense isn’t achieved with catchy slogans. ACN employs 320 experts with an average age of 44, including rapid-response teams that spring into action when needed. For instance, at Matera Hospital, where a cyberattack had knocked out radiology, oncology, and emergency services, specialists intervened, fixed the problem, and restored operations.
Then there’s artificial intelligence, which isn’t just a threat but also a defensive tool. In May, a 30-million-euro supercomputer will be inaugurated in Naples, designed to analyze threats in real time and predict attacks before they occur. Frattasi sums it up: “We have already made investments in this direction.”
The bottom line? Attacks are increasing, but so is our defense. Sure, we need more funding, more training, and greater awareness. But one thing is clear: cybersecurity isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. And on that, I believe ACN is right.
