Accenture has signed a multi-million euro contract with the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) for the Protected Business Network (PBN) program, marking a key step in delivering NATO's secure, cloud-enabled digital enterprise. Accenture will work with Leonardo to deliver the contract over the next seven years. The Protected Business Network establishes the foundation for classified digital operations across the NATO Enterprise, ensuring decisionmakers and military personnel can communicate, coordinate, and access critical data in a modern standardized and scalable cloud environment.
Quick Intel
NATO awards Accenture and Leonardo multi-million euro contract for PBN.
Estimated contract value ~200 million euros over seven years.
Serves approximately 29,000 users across the Alliance.
Leonardo implements Zero Trust Architecture with Global Cybersec Platform (AI multi-agentic cyber defense).
Signed at NATO Summit Defense Industry Forum in Ankara, Turkey.
Replaces legacy approaches with common cloud operating model.
The PBN program will replace legacy approaches and strengthen the agility and security of the NATO digital infrastructure by introducing a common cloud operating model, standardized engineering practices and a secure environment in which new digital services can be developed, deployed and maintained more rapidly. Accenture and Leonardo will design, implement and operate the core PBN platform across a multi-cloud environment provided by NCIA, supporting the progressive deployment and long-term adoption of secure cloud services to approximately 29,000 users.
Dr Dylan Browne, NCIA General Manager, stated: "With this contract, we are delivering on the Alliance's commitment to innovation, digital transformation, and collective investment in our technological future. Under the Protected Business Network, NATO is taking a key step to modernize its digital infrastructure and enable a more connected, data-driven enterprise."
Mauro Macchi, CEO for EMEA at Accenture, added: "NATO's ambition to become a digitally enabled Alliance is one of the most consequential transformation programs of our time. Together with Leonardo, we are bringing the cloud and security capabilities needed to help NCIA build a digital backbone that is resilient, interoperable and ready for the future."
Lorenzo Mariani, CEO and General Manager of Leonardo, stated: "In the current geopolitical landscape, this project represents a significant milestone to boost NATO's operational readiness, interoperability, and mission continuity. Leonardo consolidates its leadership in trusted cyber security for mission critical organizations."
Further strengthened by recent acquisitions, Leonardo will implement a Zero Trust Architecture secured by its proprietary Global Cybersec Platform, an AI multi-agentic platform for cyber defense, to guarantee world-class resiliency.
Approved by the North Atlantic Council as a NATO-wide capability program, the Protected Business Network supports the Alliance's ambition to accelerate NATO's Digital Transformation and ensure the Alliance can exploit emerging technologies while maintaining its technological edge.
About Accenture
Accenture helps the world's leading enterprises reinvent by building their digital core and unleashing the power of AI. We bring together the talent of our approximately 799,000 people with proprietary assets and platforms. We serve approximately 9,000 clients and generated approximately $70 billion in FY25 revenue.
About NCIA
The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) is NATO's technological and cyber capability hub, delivering, operating and defending the digital capabilities that enable the Alliance to communicate, plan, decide and act securely and at speed. NCIA brings together over 3800 civilian and military experts across 30 locations.
About Leonardo
Leonardo is an international industrial group that develops multi-domain technological capabilities for global security. It employs over 62,000 people worldwide and operates in Electronics, Helicopters, Aircraft, Cyber & Security and Space sectors. In 2025 Leonardo recorded new orders of €23.8 billion and consolidated revenues of €19.5 billion.
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