Bill in the Senate, 1,200 licensed 'cyber military specialists' fully operational

Definition of the "cyber space of national interest for the defense and military security of the State", Chief of Defense Staff who also becomes "Cyber ​​Defense Authority" and therefore responsible for the organisation, professional preparation, readiness and use of joint cyber personnel. And military personnel - approximately 1200 when fully operational - cyber specialists, after obtaining a specific "Military Cyber ​​Specialist" license after passing high-level ad hoc training courses. These are the main innovations regarding cyber security contained in the government bill on "strengthening and adapting national defense capacity", being examined by the Senate Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

The bill, which also establishes the "Joint Training Center for combat and for countering the hybrid threat" under the Chief of Defense Staff, has the aim of strengthening the national defense system in innovative domains such as the cyber sector or the use of drones and other unmanned military systems, including ships and underwater vehicles.

For the military cyber specialist, a training course is envisaged (or alternatively the assessment of high specialist skills in the sector) and a system of retainers and specific economic treatment, aimed, as stated in the report accompanying the bill, to "reward the very high technical specialization and with an anti-exodus function", to essentially avoid that once trained the specialists then turn to the private market. An "initial five-year shutdown" is therefore envisaged, in addition to any shutdown periods already in place, and, once in possession of the patent, "upon request, a further voluntary two-year shutdown, renewable no more than four times". The staff employed in cyber departments and units will therefore have a specific "indemnity" in the initial period of standstill and a one-off economic bonus of "4,300 euros gross" for each two-year voluntary standstill period.

The Senate commission, led by Maurizio Gasparri who is also rapporteur of the measure, is expected to conclude the examination of the amendments to the bill on Tuesday and is proceeding with the examination in the drafting stage - which entails a quicker passage in the Chamber, without modifications.