Specialized in data protection and cybersecurity, Gino Perrella, new member of Assoprovider, explains the importance of an integrated approach to data protection.
Consultant and entrepreneur, Gino Perrella, since 1984, began to take an interest in the IT sector, subsequently following its entire evolution:
"I was fortunate to witness the rapid growth of IT in Italy, from the first software in COBOL and BASIC, to hardware development, to the first operating systems, I was one of the first to distribute Unix systems," Perrella tells Assoprovider, the association he has chosen to join today.
Gino Perrella represents "a valuable acquisition" for Assoprovider, thanks especially to his interest and expertise in data protection issues, on which he is currently focused with his company, the Startup Data Protection: "I will bring my sensitivity towards cybersecurity issues to Assoprovider," continues Perrella.
From consultancy to business
Gino Perrella's curriculum is rich with diverse experiences, from his work with Tecnodiffusione, which was one of the largest computer distribution companies in Italy, to his venture with EDP Italia, in a managerial role, becoming a point of reference in the South for the distribution of IT services and software. Finally, his growing interest in data protection and the decision to change course to pursue consultancy:
"In 2017, with the arrival of the GDPR, I realized that I could leverage my knowledge, both technical and regulatory, in the service of data protection. I then began with assignments as a DPO in some sectors, such as the insurance sector, but it wasn't enough for me. I wanted to start a business, and from there, the birth, in May 2020, of Startup Data Protection, which combines the legal, technical, and process aspects in data security."
The meeting with Assoprovider took place through a mutual friend, Marcello Cama, a member of the Assoprovider board and head of communications: "I knew Assoprovider through Marcello and was passionate about its legal battles. I then chose to join the association because I want to contribute to the topic of data protection, an area on which the association is already working well, raising public awareness through OPENTLC, which gives significant attention to the subject."
The importance of an integrated approach to data protection
At the end of our interview, we ask Luigi Perrella to offer some advice for companies that want to align themselves on the topic of cybersecurity and data protection:
"The mistake to avoid is considering data protection as a purely legal issue, delegating the GDPR matter to a lawyer. A correct approach to the topic is an integrated one that combines, in a single analysis, the legal aspects with data management and employee training, to reduce and eliminate the risks of cyber attacks. Addressing cybersecurity in a company becomes pointless and costly if there is no global vision."