Collaborating with the National Cyber Security Agency to fortify a computer network under their purview
In a significant move towards enhancing cybersecurity, the Milan Internet Exchange (MIX) has signed an agreement with the National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN) of Italy. This collaboration is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the national system against cyber threats and is in line with the 2022-2026 National Cybersecurity Strategy implementation plan [1][2].
The agreement aims to foster a cooperative environment between the public and private sectors, with the primary objective of improving cybersecurity. The key initiatives under this agreement focus on:
- Establishing effective coordination and information sharing on the status and evolution of cyber threats between national Internet Exchange Points (IXP) operators and ACN.
- Developing guidelines and best practices for securing Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) configurations, which are crucial for internet routing security. Although the exact details of these guidelines are not provided, they are expected to play a significant role in enhancing the security of Italy’s national Internet network infrastructure.
- Strengthening the overall security and resilience of Italy’s national Internet network infrastructure.
- Promoting knowledge exchange and collaboration between the public sector (ACN) and private sector stakeholders to bolster national cybersecurity resilience.
The collaboration between MIX, ACN, and the TOP-IX Consortium is aimed at enhancing the prevention and resilience capabilities of the national system. However, the agreements do not provide information on the specific terms or duration of the collaboration [1][2].
This agreement was started by the Agency with Italian IXP operators and was signed in coordination and collaboration with the TOP-IX Consortium. The initiatives under this agreement are in line with the 2022-2026 National Cybersecurity Strategy implementation plan, and the agreements are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the national system against cyber threats [1][2].
The agreements between MIX and ACN emphasize dialogue and collaboration between the public and private sectors for effective cyber threat response and national security. They also include joint activities to exchange information on the evolution of cyber threats, further underscoring the importance of collective efforts in addressing cybersecurity challenges [1][2].
This collaboration is a significant step towards enhancing Italy's cybersecurity posture and reflects the government's commitment to protecting national security in the digital age.
[1] Source for the details of the agreement [2] Source for the alignment with the National Cybersecurity Strategy implementation plan
- The collaboration between MIX, ACN, and the TOP-IX Consortium is focused on strengthening Italy's cybersecurity by fostering dialogue and collaboration between the public and private sectors for effective cyber threat response, developing guidelines for securing Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) configurations, and enhancing the prevention and resilience capabilities of the national system.
- The implementation of the 2022-2026 National Cybersecurity Strategy is demonstrated through the agreement between MIX and ACN, which includes key initiatives such as establishing effective coordination and information sharing on the status and evolution of cyber threats, strengthening the overall security and resilience of Italy’s national Internet network infrastructure, and promoting knowledge exchange and collaboration between the public sector and private sector stakeholders.
