It took place yesterday at the headquarters of Unioncamere in Rome, the conference “Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity”. The event coincided with the imminent deadline for the transposition of the European Directive NIS 2, aimed at strengthening cybersecurity in the European Union. Promoted by Unioncamere and LEX-Institute for Legal-Economic Research, the meeting explored how theArtificial Intelligence (AI) Can Improve Cybersecurity and help companies respond more effectively to digital threats.
The importance of Artificial Intelligence for SMEs
The general secretary of Unioncamere, Joseph Tripoli, opened the conference by underlining the importance of artificial intelligence for small and medium-sized Italian businesses. “Artificial intelligence it concerns everything and poses new problems. There is no sector that is not involved,” Tripoli said, highlighting how SMEs must address not only technological challenges, but also philosophical, legal and ethical ones.
Tripoli then underlined one of the major critical issues: the digital immaturity of Italian SMEs. “About 40-45% of Italian small businesses are considered digitally immature,” he explained, citing Istat data that revealed how the lack of digital skills was an obstacle for 55% of companies that had considered adopting AI technologies.
Training and awareness: two fundamental pillars
Bruno Frattasi, director general of the National Cybersecurity Agency, emphasized two crucial aspects: the building digital skills , cyber threat awareness. “The current picture is not very comforting,” Frattasi said, emphasizing the need to train a workforce capable of facing the challenges of the digital world. He also recalled the importance of adopting a proactive approach to managing threats, urging companies to invest in protection technologies and training.
“Small and medium-sized enterprises must be able to defend yourself from cyber threatsand,” Frattasi reiterated, insisting on the need for sensitize SMEs and develop a culture of cybersecurity. The NIS 2 directive, which will come into force on 17 October 2024, represents an opportunity for companies to review their cybersecurity strategies and improve their infrastructures.
AI can transform businesses
Barbara Caputo, professor of Computer Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Turin, illustrated how theartificial intelligence can transform radically the Italian business landscape. “Companies that use AI and those that develop it have enormous opportunities,” he said. Caputo then pointed to the Leonardo supercomputer, one of the most advanced in Europe, as an example of how Italy can play a competitive role in the global AI market.
AI, according to Caputo, can offer tailor-made solutions for different industries, enabling businesses to streamline their operations and improve product customization. “AI-based platforms can improve the organization of complex supply chains, such as the jewelry industry, which often involve micro-enterprises,” he added.
Cdp Venture Capital’s commitment
Agostino Scornajenchi, general manager of CDP Venture Capital, highlighted the crucial role that artificial intelligence will play in the coming years for the economic development of the country. “We have one billion euros dedicated to AI in our 2024-2028 industrial plan,” he said, underlining the importance of creating a favorable ecosystem for the growth of SMEs through targeted investments.
According to Scornajenchi, artificial intelligence will not only increase the competitiveness of Italian companies, but It will also create new job and innovation opportunities. To fully exploit this potential, however, it is necessary for companies to invest in digital skills and continuous training of staff.
Priest, Unioncamere: “continuous training is needed”
The president of Unioncamere, Andrea Prete, reiterated theimportance of lifelong learning to prepare workers for future challenges. “Most of the jobs that will exist in 2030 have not been invented yet,” Prete said, highlighting the mismatch between the skills needed by the market and those available. He also noted that STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) jobs are hard to find even 70-75 percent of the time.
Roberto Serrentino, president of LEX-Institute for Legal-Economic Research, “the rules and technologies must be thoroughly understood in order to fully exploit the potential of artificial intelligence”.
Italy, an excellence in supercomputing
Francesco Ubertini, president of the International Foundation for Big Data and Artificial Intelligence for Human Development (IFAB) and president of Cineca, has Italy’s role in the supercomputing sector praised. “Since 2018, the Italian supercomputing center has become one of the most important in Europe,” Ubertini explained, underlining how Italy can count on a solid technological infrastructure to compete globally.
The advanced technological infrastructure, represented by centers like the supercomputer Leonardo, represents a point of excellence that could push the country to become a leader in the field of artificial intelligence.
What is the Nis 2 directive?
La NIS2 directive (Network and Information Security) is a European Union regulation on cybersecurity, designed to update the previous NIS Directive. Its aim is harmonise cybersecurity levels between Member States, similar to what the GDPR did for data protection. Coming into force on 16 January 2023, the directive must be implemented by EU countries by 17 October 2024.
NIS2 aims to protect “essential and important entities” operating in critical sectors such as energy, transport, healthcare and public administration. The directive requires companies to adopt a proactive approach to managing cyber risks, constantly monitoring their security and implementing effective measures to prevent attacks such as ransomware. The regulation is not limited to large companies, but also involves small and micro companies based on the sector in which they operate.
Companies must implement a security governance system, which includes regular audits, risk management, and incident response plans. Adopting cyber hygiene practices, such as continually updating systems and implementing multi-factor authentication, is essential.
Il lack of respect of the NIS2 directive may result in significant sanctions: up to 10 million euros or 2% of turnover for essential entities, and up to 7 million euros or 1,4% of turnover for other companies.
As Frattasi recalled during the conference, “no subject is immune from digital threats”, inviting companies to adopt proactive measures to identify and mitigate risks.
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Publish date : 2024-10-17 21:37:00
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