Simone Nogara
Strategic cybersecurity advisory for Private Equity firms and Family Offices managing high-stakes transactions across Europe.
Background
Former cybersecurity advisor to NATO and the European Commission, where he contributed to institutional security frameworks and cross-border cyber defense initiatives across multiple member states.
Now advising on M&A transactions, virtual CISO mandates, and regulatory compliance (NIS2, GDPR, DORA) for financial sector entities. Based in Como, Italy, serving clients across the European Union and Switzerland.
Focus Areas
M&A Cyber Due Diligence
Pre-acquisition cybersecurity risk assessment for transactions. Investment Committee-ready deliverables with Go/No-Go recommendations.
Virtual CISO
Part-time executive security leadership. Board reporting, risk governance, and compliance programme oversight.
Regulatory Compliance
NIS2 Directive, GDPR, and DORA implementation for essential and important entities operating in regulated sectors.
Family Office Security
Personal and operational cybersecurity for UHNWI principals. Travel protocols, device security, and residential networks.
The Practice
Boutique
Deliberately limited client base. Strategic advisory only — no implementation, no managed services. Every engagement receives direct principal involvement.
Confidential
Mutual NDA from first contact. Client identities, transaction details, and advisory scope are never disclosed. Case studies fully anonymized.
Independent
No vendor partnerships or referral commissions. Recommendations driven exclusively by client interest. Full objectivity guaranteed.
Credentials & Affiliations
Experience
- —Former Cybersecurity Advisor, NATO
- —Former Cybersecurity Advisor, European Commission
- —100+ M&A cyber due diligence engagements
- —Cross-border advisory across 12+ EU jurisdictions
Certifications
- —CISSP — Certified Information Systems Security Professional
- —CCSP — Certified Cloud Security Professional
- —ISSAP — Information Systems Security Architecture Professional
- —CGRC — Certified in Governance, Risk and Compliance
- —PRINCE2® — Project Management
Expertise Areas
M&A Cyber Due Diligence
Pre-acquisition risk assessment and liability quantification for transactions across regulated sectors.
NIS2 Directive Implementation
Entity classification, gap analysis, governance frameworks, and 24-month compliance roadmaps.
GDPR / DORA Compliance
Data protection impact assessments, DORA resilience testing, and cross-border regulatory alignment.
Virtual CISO Services
Part-time executive security leadership with board reporting and risk governance oversight.
Incident Response Leadership
Crisis management coordination, regulator communication, and forensic partner oversight.
EU Data Sovereignty
Jurisdictional architecture for data residency, sovereign cloud strategy, and Schrems II compliance.
Languages
- — Italian (native)
- — English (fluent)
Institutional Experience
- — Former institutional security advisor to European governmental organizations
- — Contributed to cross-border cyber defense frameworks
- — Advisory experience across NATO and EU institutional contexts
Standards & Frameworks
Como, Italy
Based in Como, at the crossroads of Italy and Switzerland. 90 minutes from Zürich, Geneva, and Lugano — EU jurisdictional advantage with direct Swiss market access. All engagements conducted in Italian and English.
Engagement Model
Project-Based
M&A due diligence, pre-IPO assessments, NIS2 implementation. Fixed scope with defined deliverables and timeline.
Retainer-Based
Virtual CISO, board advisory, ongoing compliance. Monthly retainer with continuous access and quarterly deliverables.