On June 17, at the Sala Spadolini of the Collegio Romano, the seminar "Cybersecurity in Museums" will take place, organized by the Department for the Valorization of Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture.
The Directorate-General for Digitalization and Communication will take part in the proceedings with institutional greetings from the Director-General, Andrea De Pasquale, as a testament to the Directorate's commitment to promoting a culture of digital security within the Administration and cultural institutes, as well as with presentations by the Head of Service II, Stefano Musco.
The event will open with institutional greetings from Lucia Borgonzoni, Undersecretary of State for Culture, Brigadier General Antonio Petti, Commander of the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, Alfonsina Russo, Head of the Department for the Valorization of Cultural Heritage (DiVa), and Andrea De Pasquale, Director-General for Digitalization and Communication of the Ministry of Culture.
An important opportunity for discussion and in-depth analysis on cybersecurity and data protection in the museum sector, in light of the challenges posed by the growing digitalization of processes, services, and cultural collections.
The seminar will address the main issues related to cybersecurity applied to museums and cultural institutes, with particular attention to the coordination of cybersecurity activities within the Ministry of Culture, data protection, GDPR-related aspects, network and IT systems security, prevention of cyberattacks, and business continuity and disaster recovery strategies. Thanks to the contribution of experts from the Carabinieri Corps, the Ministry of Culture, and the National Cybersecurity Agency, the seminar will also offer an in-depth look at the most common cyber threats, social engineering techniques, and minimum security measures that can be implemented in the short and medium term.
During the seminar, the Head of Service II of the Directorate-General for Digitalization and Communication, Stefano Musco, will speak, exploring two topics of particular relevance to the secure management of digital infrastructure and information:
- "Internal coordination within the Ministry of Culture on cybersecurity. Critical issues and development directions," dedicated to the analysis of coordination activities, the main organizational challenges, and the prospects for strengthening cybersecurity governance within the Administration;
- "From IT Security to Data Security. Administrative Coordination on GDPR and Support for the DPO," focused on aspects related to personal data protection, regulatory compliance, and coordination and support activities for the Data Protection Officer.
The afternoon session will be dedicated to the presentation of case studies, including the experience of the Uffizi Galleries following a cyberattack and the issues related to access to cultural sites and the phenomenon of secondary ticketing in the case of the Colosseum Archaeological Park. Guidelines on human-related security will also be presented, curated by the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage.
The meeting will conclude with a debate among museum directors and cybersecurity experts, moderated by Alfonsina Russo, aimed at sharing experiences, critical issues, and prospects for strengthening digital security in the national cultural system.
The event is part of the broader awareness and training initiative promoted by the Ministry of Culture on digital security issues, with the aim of strengthening the awareness and skills of professionals responsible for managing and enhancing an increasingly connected and digital cultural heritage.