Ireland faces rising cybersecurity challenges, with escalating economic impacts and threats, prompting strategic government initiatives.
- In 2023, Ireland’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) handled 5,276 reports, confirming 721 cybersecurity incidents and 309 investigations, compared to 2,580 incidents reported across the EU by the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) between 2022-23. || Source: RTE
- Moreover, the economic impact of cybercrime on Ireland was estimated at €9.6 billion in 2020, according to a report by Grant Thornton, an exponential increase of 1423% compared to 2014 (€630 million). || Source: Irish Tech News
+ During the same period, a 100% rise in computer viruses and a 20% increase in phishing attacks were noted, along with €12 million in losses from credit and debit card fraud. - To combat cyber threats, the Irish government published the National Cyber Risk Assessment in 2022, outlining strategies to enhance national cybersecurity resilience.
+ Furthermore, a €2 million fund, co-funded by the EU’s Digital Europe Programme, was introduced to support SMEs in enhancing cybersecurity. Eligible SMEs can receive up to 80% of project costs, capped at €60,000, to strengthen their IT systems. || Source: National Cyber Security Centre - Ireland enforces data protection through the Data Protection Act 2018, which implements the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), establishing a new Data Protection Commission. || Source: Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
+ Non-compliance with data protection laws has led to significant fines; for instance, in 2024, the Data Protection Commission imposed a €1.2 billion fine on a global social media platform for GDPR violations. || Source: Data Protection Commission
