Technology, convergence, data-driven models: the security of the future at the intersection of the physical and digital worlds
Security in the 21st century is no longer merely a matter of safeguarding territory. It is measured less and less by the ability to respond to an emergency and increasingly by the ability to anticipate it. It takes the form of the ability to transform available information into operational decisions and to generate ever-faster responses in a context where the physical and digital realms are now closely interconnected. This is not merely a technological change. It is a genuine paradigm shift.
The evolving geopolitical landscape, the growing exposure of critical infrastructure and the proliferation of increasingly hybrid threats are profoundly altering the way in which institutions and organisations approach the protection of the country’s strategic interests. Traditional risks are now compounded by cyber-attacks, interference with communication networks, vulnerabilities in supply chains and phenomena that require coordinated responses across the physical and digital domains. The decisive factor, therefore, is the availability of tools to rapidly convert data into action. This gives rise to a new challenge: building situational awareness capable of integrating data, expertise and technologies to anticipate risks and manage the necessary responses, even in the most complex situations.
This is a shift affecting all strategic domains (land, sea, air, space and cyberspace), which are now increasingly interdependent. Smart sensors, radar, satellite platforms, communication systems and digital applications generate enormous quantities of information every day; the value of this information lies in the ability to correlate it, providing operators with a unified view of the context. In this scenario, technology plays a decisive role, and interoperability, artificial intelligence, automation and advanced data analysis are redefining the very concept of security, which is increasingly becoming a data-driven process. No longer isolated systems, therefore, but digital ecosystems in which people, technologies and organisations share information in real time, strengthening resilience and operational continuity.
The European strategies dedicated to the resilience and protection of critical infrastructure are moving in this direction, particularly the European Commission’s “Preparedness Union Strategy”, which identifies cooperation between civil and institutional capabilities, the analysis and correlation of large volumes of information, and the use of advanced digital platforms as some of the prerequisites for strengthening the Union’s capacity to prevent and manage increasingly complex crises. From this perspective, resilience is no longer limited to being a factor in emergency response, but extends to the concept of being able to adapt and maintain essential functions even under severe pressure.
From data to decision: the value of situational awareness
One of the areas in which this transformation is most evident is the maritime domain. Italia, with over 8,000 kilometres of coastline and a central, strategic position in the Mediterranean, must manage a complex system of activities on a daily basis, including navigation safety, emergency management, protection of the marine environment, fisheries control, protection of port infrastructure and monitoring of trade flows. These are different functions, but they are united by the need for a constantly updated information picture.
The ability to integrate data from coastal radars, vessel identification systems, sensors, mapping platforms and communication networks now makes it possible to develop a dynamic representation of the operational scenario, improving coordination between operations centres and speeding up the assessment of events and the activation of interventions. The ultimate aim is not merely to observe what is happening, but to have tools capable of providing a dynamic representation of the context, facilitating decisions based on reliable data.
Situational awareness therefore represents the intersection between technological innovation, operational capability and security. In other words, it transforms a wealth of information into shared knowledge, reducing reaction times and increasing the effectiveness of maritime traffic monitoring and search-and-rescue operations. This is, after all, the very same approach underpinning ‘ProtectEU’, the new European strategy for internal security, which identifies technological innovation, the protection of critical infrastructure and the sharing of information between competent authorities as some of the key tools for responding to the new threat landscape.
Technologies for maritime security: the Almaviva model
This same approach is also put into practice in the solutions developed by Almaviva for the Defence & Homeland Security sector. With over thirty years’ experience and more than 600 specialist professionals, the Group has developed expertise in the design, integration and management of digital platforms dedicated to key security sectors, contributing to the technological outfitting of over 400 naval vessels and the operation of systems that support the monitoring of the entire Italian coastline. Almaviva’s philosophy is based on a model of close end-to-end integration: Command & Control systems, decision-support platforms, mapping applications, sensor networks, radar and digital services all contribute to the creation of interoperable architectures capable of collecting, correlating and making available information from different sources. The aim is to ensure a comprehensive view of the operational context, improving the timeliness and continuity of service.
Among the Group’s most significant achievements in this field is its collaboration with the Italian Port Authority – Coastguard, which has been developed over more than thirty-five years and has been accompanied by a constant drive for technological innovation. Almaviva has contributed, alongside other Italian industrial firms, to the evolution of the Vessel Traffic System (VTS), a strategic infrastructure for monitoring shipping traffic, coordinating operations and managing emergencies, which contributes to the safety of navigation and the safeguarding of human life at sea. Alongside these activities, Almaviva has also supported the digitalisation of the fisheries supply chain through interoperable platforms and centralised mapping systems that facilitate information sharing and improve operational coordination across the region. This journey demonstrates how digital innovation can have a tangible impact on the efficiency of processes and services, as well as on the integrated response capacity of institutions.
Furthermore, the collaboration with the Coastguard continues to serve as a testing ground for new solutions. Among the projects currently under development is an immersive environment dedicated to simulating navigation and at-sea rescue operations, the aim of which is to enhance training and awareness-raising activities through advanced virtual reality technologies. In a context where safety increasingly depends on the ability to integrate data, expertise and technologies, long-term collaborations such as the one developed by Almaviva alongside the Coast Guard confirm that innovation can also arise from the continuity of relationships and dialogue between institutions and industry, and that it is on this basis that the resilience of tomorrow’s maritime domains can be built. This shared vision is also being put into practice through Almaviva’s participation, alongside other industrial organisations, in the institutional initiatives promoted by the Coast Guard to mark the 160th anniversary of the Corps’ foundation and as part of the roadmap of events planned for 2026.
