CyberBridge: Cybersecurity Becomes a New Pillar of Italy’s Presence in Africa

Source Domain: decode39.com

Through the CyberBridge project, Med-Or is strengthening its role in Italy’s strategic cooperation with the African continent. At the core of the initiative are cyber training, institutional building and the development of networks among public administrations.

Italy’s evolving cyber engagement in Africa. The Med-Or Italian Foundation hosted in Rome the closing event of CyberBridge, a cybersecurity training program involving 30 public officials from nine Sub-Saharan African countries. The initiative, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and developed together with the National Cybersecurity Agency, with operational support from Leonardo’s Cyber & Security Solutions division, offers a fairly clear picture of how Italy’s presence in the African continent is evolving.

The point goes beyond the project’s technical dimension alone. CyberBridge rather reflects an attempt to build more structured cooperation around digital security, a sector now increasingly considered an integral part of institutional stability, critical infrastructure protection and public governance.
In the statement released at the end of the initiative, the project is described as a tool to strengthen “institutional and operational capabilities” in the cyber domain, within a context shaped by Africa’s rapid digital transformation and the growing number of cyber threats targeting governments and strategic infrastructures.

Building institutional and operational capabilities. The program was structured in several phases: initial assessments in partner countries, introductory online modules, immersive activities and cyber exercises at Leonardo facilities, specialized training at the National Cybersecurity Agency including a visit to CSIRT Italia, and a visit to Leonardo’s Global Cybersec Center in Chieti.