Cyber Security in Ireland

Last week our blog focused on the cyber-attacks on a global stage, lets break it down into more familiar territory this week and focus on Irelands perspective on these threats.

Did you know?

According to PWC (2016), Nearly half (44%) of organisations in Ireland who reported economic crime suffered a cyber-attack in the last two years. This has almost doubled since 2012 (25%) and is substantially higher than the global results (32%). Of those affected by cybercrime in Ireland, nearly one in five (18%) incurred losses of between €92k and €4.6m (Global: 13%). And even more surprisingly: 28% of Irish firms have no operational incident response plan for the impact of a cyber-attack.

The Irish government are aware of these increasingly alarming risks for businesses. In 2016 the Dept. of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources stated with regards to cyber security:

“There is pressing risks for businesses and individuals, including the loss or theft of personal or business information, or even the destruction of property.”

In 2015, the National Cyber Security Strategy was released. This sets out how Ireland will engage with a dynamic and challenging aspect of developments in digital technology, setting out the Government’s approach to facilitating the resilient, safe and secure operation of computer networks and associated infrastructure used by Irish citizens and businesses.

In addition to these developments in digital technology, the Government have developed a programme of education and training. Beginning with a revamped Make IT Secure website to help residents and Small to Medium Enterprises (SME) better protect themselves online. They will also develop a programme of structured exercises for critical national infrastructure owners and for public sector bodies, in partnership with international peers and the academic sector.

It is important to consider the possibility of groups resorting to cyber-measures to advance their aims by, for example, launching an attack on and disrupting critical infrastructure. This is an issue of growing concern at EU and International levels, which we highlighted in last week’s blog.

Every business should have cyber security and data protection measures in their office. As the saying goes, Prevention is better than cure. Ensure your organisation has prevention methods in place.

Coming up next week, we will look at our ‘top cyber risks and tips for SME’s’ we found when going through the process of becoming Cyber Essential Certified.

References: PWC, Taoiseach Statement, National Cyber Security Strategy 2015-2017, Make IT Secure

Tony