Accenture has signed a multi-million dollar contract with the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) for the Protected Business Network (PBN) programme, marking a key step in providing NATO with a secure digital cloud environment. Accenture will work together with Leonardo to execute the contract over the next seven years.
The Protected Business Network program lays the foundation for classified digital operations across the NATO organization, ensuring that decision-makers and military personnel across operational domains can communicate, coordinate and access critical data in a modern, standardized and scalable cloud environment, with greater resilience to external attacks and disruptions.
The PBN program will replace previous approaches and strengthen the agility and security of NATO’s digital infrastructure by implementing a common operating model for the cloud, standardized engineering practices and a secure environment in which new digital services can be developed, deployed and maintained more quickly, laying the foundation for future capabilities.
Accenture and Leonardo will design, deploy and operate the core PBN platform in a multi-cloud environment provided by NCIA, supporting the progressive deployment and long-term adoption of secure cloud services for approximately 29,000 Alliance users. The estimated value of the contract amounts to around 200 million euros over the next seven years.
Zero Trust architecture with proprietary platform
Reinforced by recent acquisitions, Leonardo will implement a Zero Trust architecture protected through its proprietary Global Cybersec Platform, a multi-agent platform based on artificial intelligence for cyber defense, in order to guarantee a world-class level of resilience.
The agreement, signed by the director general of the NCIA, Dr. Dylan Browne, and Olivier Girard, head of the Defense industry for Accenture in EMEA, at the Defense Industry Forum held on the occasion of the NATO Summit in Ankara (Turkey), begins the first phase of implementation of one of NATO’s most relevant digital transformation programs.
«With this contract, we make the Alliance’s commitment to innovation, digital transformation and collective investment in our technological future a reality. “Through the Protected Business Network, NATO takes a decisive step to modernize its digital infrastructure and move towards a more connected and data-driven organization, ensuring the deployment of digital capabilities quickly and at scale,” said NCIA Director General Dr. Dylan Browne.
Build a resilient digital backbone
Mauro Macchi, EMEA CEO of Accenture, said: “NATO’s ambition to become a fully digitally enabled Alliance is one of the most significant transformation programs of our time, and a reinvention of this magnitude requires a trusted partner committed to delivering results. “Together with Leonardo, we bring the cloud and cybersecurity capabilities needed to help NCIA build a resilient, interoperable and future-ready digital backbone, while strengthening the Alliance’s ability to operate and lead.”
The project represents a significant milestone to strengthen operational readiness, interoperability and continuity of NATO missions
Lorenzo Mariani, CEO and general director of Leonardo, said: “In the current geopolitical context, this project represents a significant milestone to strengthen operational readiness, interoperability and continuity of NATO missions. With the Protected Business Network program, Leonardo consolidates its leadership in trusted cybersecurity for organizations with critical missions.
Approved by the North Atlantic Council as a NATO-wide capabilities programme, the Protected Business Network supports the Alliance’s ambition to accelerate its digital transformation and ensure it can take advantage of emerging technologies while maintaining its technological advantage. This contract establishes a long-term strategic alliance to make that vision a reality.
