Three days of in-depth discussions and confrontation on the cybersecurity challenges facing public administrations in Emilia-Romagna, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Veneto.
This was, in short, the event "Cybersecurity in the Public Administration: Strategies and Actions," organized by Cerchio ICT —the network agreement that brings together the in-house companies Informatica Alto Adige, Lepida, Pasubio Tecnologia, and Trentino Digitale — in collaboration with the National Cybersecurity Agency, held on October 20, 21, and 22 2025.
The first day was divided in four parallel sessions in Bologna, Bolzano, Schio and Trento and broadcasted via streaming.
The session in Bologna was coordinated by Gianluca Mazzini, General Director in Lepida.
Elena Mazzoni, the Emilia-Romagna Region Digital Agenda, Legality and Poverty Contrast Assessor, opened the session, followed by the Chief of the State Police Fabrizio Cavani, responsible for the Operative Center for Cyber Security of the Emilia-Romagna Region. Following this, the National Cybersecurity Agency, with the interventions of Admiral Gianluca Galasso, Agostino Sperandeo, Luigi Addorisio De Feo and Nicolò Rivetti Di Val Cervo, provided an overview of the financing interventions for the strengthening of PA cybersecurity and the NIS2 Directive.
Then Alessandro Landi, executive manager for the Emilia-Romagna Region, provided an internal and external view to the Administration on cybersecurity. Stefano Guannandrea, Safety, Environment & Emergency Director of Lepida, illustrated the services provided by the regional CSIRT to local Bodies and the results obtained two years after its establishment.
The session was closed by Michele Colajanni, Full Professor of Computer Engineering at the University of Bologna. The second and third days, hosted in Bologna and Trento, were dedicated to the topic of ransomware incidents.
The day in Bologna attracted over 180 participants. During the morning session, Fabrizio Farinacci and Fernando Damian De Pace, experts from the CSIRT Italy Division of the National Cybersecurity Agency, and by Inspector Maurizio Tonellotto, Head of the Emilia-Romagna Cybernetic Security Operations Unit of the State Police, gave a few statements.
During the afternoon, a table-top simulation of a ransomware incident was carried out, presented by Stefano Giannandrea, which allowed participants to test themselves in comparison with experts from CSIRT Italia, the Postal Police and the other in-house organizers.
The initiative was a success in terms of attendance and appreciation found by participants, demonstrating that netbuilding and working together is the right way to construct a more aware, secure and resilient PA.
