NATO Taps Accenture and Leonardo for Seven‑Year Cybersecure Enterprise Program

Accenture has signed a €200 million, seven‑year contract with NATO’s Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) to deliver the Protected Business Network (PBN), a secure, cloud‑enabled digital backbone for the Alliance. Partnering with Leonardo, the initiative will modernize NATO’s IT infrastructure, strengthen cyber resilience, and support 29,000 users across the Alliance.

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. With more than 3,800 civilian and military specialists spread across 30 sites in Europe and North America, NCIA serves as NATO’s digital backbone, linking political leaders, strategic command, and Allied forces.

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 across the Alliance. The estimated value of the contract is approximately 200 million euros over the next seven years.

Key Highlights of the Contract

• Accenture: Lead integrator, responsible for designing, implementing, and operating the PBN platform.
• Leonardo: Provides defense‑grade cybersecurity, including a Zero Trust Architecture powered by its Global Cybersec Platform.
• NCIA: Oversees NATO’s communications, command, and cyber infrastructure.
• Contract Value: Approximately €200 million over seven years.
• Users Impacted: Around 29,000 NATO personnel across domains.
• Location of Signing: NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum, Ankara, Turkey (July 7, 2026).

What the Protected Business Network (PBN) Delivers

• Secure Cloud Backbone: Establishes a standardized, multi‑cloud environment resilient to cyberattacks and disruptions.
• Digital Transformation: Replaces legacy IT systems with a common cloud operating model and standardized engineering practices.
• Rapid Deployment: Enables faster development, deployment, and maintenance of new digital services.
• Future‑Ready Capabilities: Provides a scalable foundation for emerging technologies and NATO’s digital transformation ambitions.

Strategic Implications

• For NATO: Enhances digital resilience, supports classified operations, and strengthens technological edge.
• For Accenture: Expands defense IT footprint, reinforces expertise in cloud and cybersecurity, and secures recurring revenue.
• For Leonardo: Positions AI‑driven cyber defense platform at NATO’s core and demonstrates leadership in Zero Trust Architecture.

Leadership Statements

• Dr Dylan Browne, NCIA General Manager: “With this contract, we are delivering on the Alliance’s commitment to innovation, digital transformation, and collective investment in our technological future.”
• Mauro Macchi, CEO for EMEA at Accenture: “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 building a resilient, interoperable, and future‑ready digital backbone.”

Conclusion

This contract represents one of NATO’s most significant digital transformation programs, aligning with its ambition to be a digitally enabled Alliance. For Accenture, it is a landmark defense engagement, while for NATO, it is a decisive step toward secure, cloud‑enabled operations that can withstand evolving cyber threats.