Ferrari deploys Bitdefender platform across operations

Ferrari has deployed Bitdefender's GravityZone platform across its infrastructure, extending a broader cybersecurity relationship between the two companies.

According to executives from both groups, the deployment covers Ferrari's engineering, manufacturing, racing and global business operations. GravityZone gives Ferrari a single platform for security, risk management and compliance, replacing a more fragmented approach to oversight.

The announcement deepens the relationship after Bitdefender's multi-year exclusive partnership with Scuderia Ferrari HP was extended. What began as a brand partnership has moved into Ferrari's wider technology estate, with the cybersecurity vendor now playing a direct role in protecting its systems.

For Ferrari, the shift reflects the pressure of securing a business with a large number of connected systems and workloads. Its profile, combined with the complexity of its industrial and sporting operations, has made cyber risk a more prominent concern.

"Centralised visibility and control are very important in a complex environment like Ferrari," said Luca Pierro, Head of Enterprise Cybersecurity at Ferrari.

"When you have thousands of systems and workloads to protect, you need a clear and unified view. Without that, it becomes more difficult to identify issues quickly and respond consistently."

Bitdefender said GravityZone combines prevention, protection, detection, response and risk visibility in one system. It said this structure can help large organisations reduce disconnected security tools and maintain a more consistent view of threats across the business.

The issue has become more pressing as cyber attacks evolve. Security researchers have warned that attackers are increasingly using legitimate software tools and trusted applications to move through networks while avoiding detection, rather than relying only on conventional malware.

"GravityZone brings prevention, protection, detection and response, along with risk visibility, into a single platform. This consolidation allows organisations to reduce fragmentation, standardise protection and maintain a consistent view across systems," said Daniel Dărăban, Vice President of Products at Bitdefender.

Bitdefender also pointed to the growing role of artificial intelligence in changing the pace and scale of attacks. Automation allows threat actors to adapt more quickly and operate across larger environments, increasing pressure on companies to identify suspicious behaviour earlier in an incident.

"What we're seeing is a shift in how attacks unfold," said Dragoș Gavriluț, Vice President of Threat Research at Bitdefender.

"Attackers are increasingly abusing legitimate tools and trusted applications to move inside environments more quietly and quickly. Combined with AI-driven automation, attacks can scale faster and adapt in real time. That's why organisations need security that can identify suspicious behaviour early and respond before an incident spreads."

Complex estate

Ferrari's environment presents a demanding use case for any security provider. Its technology estate spans factory systems, engineering workflows, race operations and corporate functions, all of which depend on fast data flows and close coordination.

In that kind of environment, delays or gaps in visibility can be costly. A problem in one part of the estate can affect multiple business areas, particularly where operations are tightly linked and decisions must be made quickly.

Pierro said Ferrari's choice was driven by the need for stronger oversight and a more efficient security model as complexity increased. He linked the decision to broader changes in the threat landscape and the growth of Ferrari's attack surface.

"The attack surface is growing, environments are more connected, and threats are moving faster. Over the past year, cybersecurity has become more complex in ways that demand a more proactive, intelligence-driven approach to defence. What led us to implement GravityZone was the need for stronger visibility, stronger control and a more efficient way to support security operations."

Trust factor

The partnership also reflects the importance large companies place on continuity and trust in cybersecurity suppliers. In critical environments, boards and security leaders often weigh a vendor's people and incident response record alongside the technology itself.

Pierro described Bitdefender as more than a software supplier to Ferrari. He said confidence in the partner's expertise and ability to respond to changing risks was part of the rationale for deeper integration.

"When it comes to cybersecurity, Bitdefender is a strategic partner to Ferrari, and our relationship is built on trust," said Luca Pierro, Head of Enterprise Cybersecurity at Ferrari.

"Trust is a critical foundation when protecting a complex organisation. In today's threat landscape, trust goes beyond technology. It means having confidence in the people, the expertise and the ability to respond effectively to evolving risks."