From the new possibilities opened up by artificial intelligence in education to the cutting edge of research into quantum technologies, physical cryptography and security in the automotive sector: Cybersecurity Day, which took place on 9 October in Pisa as part of the Internet Festival 2026, provided an opportunity to discuss the challenges that are reshaping the digital security landscape.
Organised by the Institute of Informatics and Telematics of the CNR (CNR-IIT) in collaboration with the Registro .it, the SERICS Foundation and the Industrial Union of Pisa, the event brought together representatives of research, universities, institutions and business to discuss the evolution of digital security and the strategies required to address it.
At the start of the event, Andrea Passarella, Director of CNR-IIT and Head of the Registro .it, pointed out that cybersecurity has always been one of the Institute’s key areas of research. Data and communications security are now complemented by artificial intelligence, data science, next-generation networks and quantum technologies: fields that are increasingly interconnected and strategic for the innovative capacity of Italy and Europe. As Passarella pointed out, the CNR-IIT combines its research activities with the management of the Registro .it, an essential infrastructure for the country’s digital transition. The presence of the Registro within a research institute enables the results of scientific activities to be translated into practical solutions, thereby strengthening the security and resilience not only of the technological infrastructure but also of the entire .it ecosystem, which comprises around 900 Registrars and other stakeholders involved in the registration process.
New technologies, new risks
The discussion highlighted that cybersecurity can no longer be limited to the protection of networks, devices and data. The development of artificial intelligence, and, in particular, of systems capable of carrying out tasks autonomously, makes it necessary to safeguard decision-making processes and maintain effective human control over these technologies.
Artificial intelligence offers new tools for detecting anomalies, fraud and vulnerabilities, but it can also make targeted attacks easier and cheaper. Among the examples discussed during the day were the forgery of faces and voices in audiovisual communications, personalised phishing and the ability of generative models to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in software.
The advent of the quantum computer also opens up new possibilities. On the one hand, it may call current cryptographic systems into question, while on the other, quantum communications and new authentication solutions offer tools capable of raising the level of information security.
A further area for consideration concerned connected vehicles, which are increasingly resembling constantly evolving IT systems. Their security must be guaranteed throughout their entire life cycle, from design to software updates and decommissioning, while also taking into account access management and the handling of personal data.
Beyond the rules: awareness and shared responsibility
A key word emerged clearly from the various contributions: awareness. In a landscape where technology is rapidly transforming both defence mechanisms and methods of attack, understanding these changes, assessing their consequences and recognising new risks has become an essential part of digital security.
Regulations are essential for defining responsibilities and levels of protection but they must be translated into concrete measures, underpinned by expertise, operational capabilities and continuous professional development. A necessity made even more urgent by artificial intelligence, which is accelerating both the development of defensive tools and the evolution of threats. Cybersecurity therefore requires ongoing collaboration between institutions, the research sector, businesses and public authorities, but it also involves individuals, who are called upon to make informed choices and adopt responsible behaviour when using technology.
From this perspective, training plays a central role: not only in preparing the specialist professionals required by the sector, but also in promoting basic skills and a stronger culture of digital security.
Developing cybersecurity skills
With a view to strengthening skills and raising awareness, training was the focus of the afternoon session of Cybersecurity Day, during which some of the programmes developed in Italy were presented, ranging from bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees to initiatives aimed at the younger generation, such as CyberChallenge.IT and the Italian Olympiads in Cybersecurity.
The examples given have demonstrated the importance of interdisciplinary training, which combines technical skills with legal, organisational and social skills. Games, simulations and practical challenges can also be effective tools for learning to identify vulnerabilities, analyse problems and work together to solve them.
“Train the Trainer”: training teachers in cybersecurity
The day concluded with the presentation of “Train the Trainer” and the signing of the cooperation agreement by Andrea Passarella, Alessandra Nardini, councillor of the Tuscany Regional Council responsible for education, training and the Internet Festival, and Luciano Tagliaferri, director-general of the Tuscany Region's School Office.
The project, developed by the Ludoteca of Registro .it in collaboration with the CINI Cybersecurity National Lab, will train primary and lower secondary school teachers on the topics of cybersecurity and digital citizenship, so that they can pass on knowledge, tools and methodologies appropriate to different age groups in their classrooms.
As Passarella explained, the initiative builds on the experience gained by the Ludoteca of Registro .it in activities aimed at the younger generation, focusing on teacher training in order to reach students more widely. Tuscany will be the first pilot area for a model designed to be evaluated and subsequently replicated in other contexts as well.
The collaboration between the three institutions reflects a shared vision of the role of school in digital education. Alessandra Nardini highlighted the decision to guide the younger generations in the use of new technologies, rather than relying solely on bans, and the value of teacher training as a means of spreading skills.
Luciano Tagliaferri, on the other hand, emphasised the need for schools to be places where students can learn about digital citizenship and where safe environments can be created, including from an IT perspective.
Through the “Train the Trainer” programme, the experience gained by the Ludoteca of Registro .it through workshops, games and activities dedicated to cybersecurity is being extended to the training of teachers, thereby strengthening an initiative that has for years been promoting a safer and more informed use of the Internet amongst the younger generations.