Belfast-based ANGOKA, cyber security experts in land and air mobility, has landed at Farnborough Air Show, the world-leading annual aviation industry exhibition. The ANGOKA delegation is demonstrating its latest technologies which protect connected and automated drones and aircraft from cyber intrusions, hack attacks and other unplanned events to an international audience.
Yuri Andersson says he is grateful to InvestNI for the opportunity. “We are here to display ANGOKA’s cybersecurity technology for machine-to-machine communication, an essential factor without which the safe operation of future uncrewed aircraft is impossible.”
“Our communication device for drones combines secure terrestrial and non-terrestrial 5G will be demonstrated and we will also show how ANGOKA’s solution can secure remote operation of vehicles, including a live hack,” says Mr Andersson.
ANGOKA is a major player in the UK Government’s Future Flight programme and is pressing for new regulations which will allow faster development of the drone sector.
“We’re constantly working to keep the skies safe through the highest standards of cybersecurity. We are seeing increasing demand for wider adoption of varied drone use across different industries, which requires Beyond Visual Line of Sight operation. It is essential to maintain a secure communication to ensure the safety of that operation.” he says.
IT.ie, the Irish-owned Managed IT Services company, today announces that it expects to generate an additional €1M in revenue through an automated testing service that imitates the movements of hackers to uncover and exploit cybersecurity weak spots within organisations.
The company’s new penetration testing as-a-service (PTaaS), also known as pen testing or ‘ethical hacking’, is an automated cyber security solution designed to fully replicate a hacker’s attack on an organisation, as it attempts to exploit and gain access to its network. This forewarns the organisation to the potential dangers before cybercriminals have an opportunity to exploit them, potentially preventing an attack.
Pen testing has emerged as a key solution for businesses with the growth and increased sophistication of cyberattacks in the modern business landscape. As threats develop at a previously unforeseen rate, regular, automated testing – which takes into account human oversight – is essential.
The new service provides an in-depth scan of the organisation’s network to identify vulnerabilities. It then exploits any vulnerabilities found by replicating the actions of a hacker via a diverse and sustained attack.
PTaaS is preferable to traditional pen testing, which typically only occurs once per year. It represents a significant upgrade on the previous method, which was less precise, more expensive, and more prone to human error. Monthly assessments, however, allow organisations to constantly evaluate and reinforce their systems, enabling them to protect themselves from emerging threats.
Significantly, regular pen testing also enables a reduction in business’ insurance premiums, representing long-term cost savings. As insurance premiums for businesses continue to rise, PTaaS can reduce the likelihood of needing to pay out a ransomware attack – along with the associated costs of a major cybersecurity incident – making them less of a risk to insurance companies.
The new service is being introduced at a time of significant growth for IT.ie. Earlier this year, the company announced plans to double its headcount to 50 people by the end of 2025 and increase annual revenue to €8M.
Wayne Morgan, CTO at IT.ie, said:“To stay ahead of hackers, we must think like them and view our defences as their points of attack. Manual penetration testing led the way for many years, highlighting vulnerabilities in our networks and systems. Identifying these issues internally gave us time and direction to apply remediation steps before falling victim to malicious intent.
“Although this is effective at the time it is carried out, it fails to account for the dynamic nature of cyber threats. Hackers don’t just knock on your door once; they are constantly there, looking for ways in. Automated monthly pen testing is the next generation approach and is a much more effective means of testing your network to highlight any potential weaknesses, helping you to keep hackers at bay. This new innovative service offers cost-effective, monthly assessments, reducing costs and helping achieve regulatory compliance.”
“At IT.ie, we are determined that we remain at the cutting edge of cybersecurity and provide our customers with the most up-to-date services available as we continue to grow, and this new solution adds to our armoury.”
Datapac, Ireland’s leading technology solutions and services provider, is today announcing that its Managed Threat Ops service has analysed over 380 million cybersecurity events since it was first launched 12 months ago.
A cybersecurity event is any activity on an organisation’s network that may be indicative of a security concern, such as a failed login attempt or a login from a different geographical location.
Other events in the past year have included suspicious movement within company networks or otherwise unusual behaviour patterns, lateral movement techniques that may be used by attackers to move within a network after gaining initial access, and anomalous user behaviour that may indicate a compromised account or insider attack.
Managed Threat Ops provides 24/7/365 cyberthreat hunting, response, and neutralisation to stop cybersecurity incidents in their tracks. It leverages a combination of human-led expertise and AI acceleration, enabling organisations to change their cybersecurity approach from reactive to proactive and freeing up internal resources.
In its first year, the service has been adopted by customers across a broad spectrum of organisation sizes and industry verticals such as legal, the public sector, distribution, construction, retail, hospitality, and not-for-profit. Managed Threat Ops provides proactive support to businesses of all sizes, including single-site SMBs as well as national and multinational enterprises.
Since adoption, some key benefits noted by customers are that the service operates in the background with minimal notifications or interruptions to workflows, and delivers speedy remediation in times as low as 15 minutes in the event of an incident.
Driving the demand for the Managed Threat Ops service is the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape. Increasing threat sophistication means that some traditional cybersecurity solutions, such as antivirus, firewalls, and unmanaged endpoint protection, are often not enough to provide sufficient protection for businesses.
In the coming year, Datapac expects a number of key driving factors will contribute to increased uptake of the Managed Threat Ops service. These include new pieces of legislation that are due to come into effect – the NIS2 Directive and the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) – which mandate robust cybersecurity measures to ensure compliance and security management best practices.
In addition, in line with growing cyber threats, cybersecurity insurance is becoming a necessity for more organisations. In order to secure favourable premiums and, in many cases, to secure cybersecurity insurance at all, organisations need to have 24/7 managed threat detection and response in place.
Patrick J Farrell Solicitors in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, adopted the Managed Threat Ops service to protect their highly sensitive organisational and customer data. “In times of increased cybersecurity threat, we felt the need to have a managed threat service and we are very happy with the service we get from Datapac in providing that,”said Niall Farrell, Managing Partner.
Karen O’Connor, General Manager, Datapac: “A key strength of the Managed Threat Ops service is its ability to cut through the cybersecurity noise, as some seemingly benign security events could bypass most traditional cybersecurity systems, posing a risk to data security. More and more organisations of all sizes are realising the benefits that 24/7 managed threat detection and response services can provide in the modern threat landscape. Managed Threat Ops is robust enough to meet the demands of larger enterprises, yet scalable enough to operate within the more moderate budgets of organisations in the SMB space. Going forward, it will also help organisations to remain compliant as new regulations come into force. We’re looking forward to continued success with the service amid increasing demand from customers for proactive and reliable cybersecurity.”
An Irish team of cybersecurity experts has triumphed over Australia, Korea, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), and Singapore to take Gold at the WorldSkills Global Skills Challenge 2024, hosted by WorldSkills Australia. Mark Drinan and Luke Woodside, guided by Dr. George O’Mahony of Munster Technological University (MTU), overcame fierce competition from several nations renowned for their cybersecurity expertise.
The victory marks the first time an Irish team has triumphed in an official World Skills Competition in Cybersecurity, with Ireland first entering the cybersecurity skill in 2021. Team Ireland is now setting its sights on the upcoming WorldSkills International Cybersecurity Competition (Skill 54) in Lyon this September as part of WorldSkills Team Ireland.
The Challenge
As part of the Global Skills Challenge, the teams were put into the scenario of a real-world cyber-attack on a fictitious company that was started based on a rogue malicious USB and insider threat. Over three days the teams had to run digital forensics on an infected end-user computer, each team also had to create reports including a technical brief, a timeline of the cyber-attack, a report for the media and a report for the board of directors. This competition was about accurately identifying what happened and providing real-world preventative measures and recommendations.
The Team
Team Cybersecurity for WorldSkills Ireland consists of Mark Drinan, a recent graduate from the Cybersecurity Masters at MTU and an engineer at IBM, and Luke Woodside, a graduate from TUS (Technological University Shannon) and Managing Director of Woodside Networks. Mark and Luke beat out stiff competition in regional competitions to make the national team. The team was trained and mentored by MTU Cybersecurity Lecturer and WorldSkills Ireland Expert for Cybersecurity Dr George O’Mahony.
The team trained on and competed nationally using MTU’s Cyber Range, a state-of-the-art cybersecurity platform unique to Ireland. The facility enables simulations of cyber-attacks on virtual organisations, providing invaluable training for students, researchers, and industry professionals without risking real-world damage or outages.
Professor Maggie Cusack, President of MTU, said, “MTU’s leadership in cybersecurity education, research and innovation, mentorship and training ensures that our graduates and trainees have the skills, capabilities and confidence to succeed at the highest levels in Ireland and globally. On behalf of everyone at MTU, I am delighted to congratulate our Team Ireland members on their extraordinary achievement of winning gold at the WorldSkills cybersecurity challenge.”
Dr. George O’Mahony – Cybersecurity Lecturer & Researcher at Cyber Skills at MTU and WorldSkills Ireland Expert Skill 54 – Cybersecurity, said, “This win is a great example of the work Ireland’s cybersecurity academics and experts are doing in preparing young Irish professionals to compete on the world stage. It highlights the calibre of talent being produced and the strong pipeline of skilled cybersecurity professionals available in Ireland. The win is a great boost to the team and a big step along their training and upskilling journey. The work Mark and Luke have put in has been a testament to their drive and determination.”
Mark Drinan, Team Ireland, said, “I am incredibly proud to represent my country and bring home a Gold Medal for Ireland. This medal represents Ireland’s commitment to investing in high-quality, practical cybersecurity education.”
Michael Hourihan (MTU) – WorldSkills Ireland Official Delegate – “This win highlights the positive outcomes that result when skills and technological careers are recognised and promoted at national and international levels. Congratulations to our competitors Luke Woodside and Mark Drinan and to our Cyber Security expert George O’Mahony.”
Ray English (TUD) – WorldSkills Ireland Chair-Technical Delegate – “The Global Skills Challenge held in Melbourne and hosted by WorldSkills Australia was a great platform for the WorldSkills Ireland Team of Luke Woodside, Mark Drinan and Cyber Security expert George O’Mahony to test their preparedness for the Olympics of Skills in Lyon in September 2024. We encourage ICT students to start their Skills Olympics journey by participating in the WorldSkills Ireland National Competitions this September, test your skills against the best nationally and possibly internationally.”
A new directive set to be launched in Ireland in October 2024, could lead to 4,000 businesses in Ireland and their senior executives being personally liable and their organisations exposed to potential fines of up to €10 Million. The expanded Network and Information Security Directive (NIS2) is being implemented to ensure businesses classified as essential and important entities take appropriate measures to enhance their cyber vigilance and protect sensitive data.
In response to these challenges, OpenSky, the business process automation specialists & Microsoft Solutions Partner for Data & AI who use their expertise to bring AI to the centre of digital transformations, have now launched a new Data Management and Governance service for public and private sector organisations.
This new service by OpenSky, powered by Microsoft Fabric & Purview, applies a ‘Data Fabric’[1] approach as the strategy to connect, protect and make data accessible for organisations, aiming to ensure that they meet robust governance and regulatory compliance requirements. In addition their Data Fabric service allows organisations to build greater AI powered insights from connected data by breaking down internal data silos at scale across departments.
Commenting on the new OpenSky offering which will address organisations concerns, Michael Cronin, managing director, said, “The NIS2 directive is reshaping how we approach data management in Ireland, both in the public and private sectors. It’s an opportunity for us to lead by example, ensuring that our data strategies and AI implementations are secure, transparent, and aligned with the best practices in data governance.
The NIS2 directive is an EU-wide legislation on cybersecurity that provides legal measures to increase the overall level of cybersecurity in the EU, and urgently puts pressure on public and private sector organisations to determine its impact on their current cybersecurity posture.
The expanded NIS2 Directive is estimated to impact about 4,000 businesses in Ireland, which is significant considering less than 100 businesses in Ireland are currently impacted by NIS1. The expanded NIS2 brings new categories where organisations in scope are either directly involved in the provision of essential services or connected to their delivery.
Roseanne Killeen, Acting CEO Ireland East Hospital Group, who has worked with OpenSky on enriching the access and integration of HR & Finance data in the hospital group said, “Healthcare faces major hurdles in making data accessible across various departments, and this is due to numerous disconnected data silos. Navigating the challenges around governance and prevention of data breaches can seem like an arduous task but it doesn’t have to be the case when you have access to all your data. We’re not only in a position to govern our data but we’re also now better equipped to provide accountability and transparency to the HSE.”
Based in Naas in Co Kildare, OpenSky has a rich heritage as an Irish digital transformation specialist providing AI powered IT solutions and consultancy services to both public sector and private organisations. OpenSky employs more than 110people, and this year the company celebrates its 20th anniversary, positioning them as one of Ireland’s most established IT services businesses.
To assess your organisations’ eligibility for a funded Data Governance proof of concept, follow the link here: www openskydata.com
In a world where technology is developing at an incredible pace, digital transformation is not just a trend but a necessity for every company that wants to remain competitive. Experts from the consulting company Avenga have identified five key trends that will shape the business landscape in the near future.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Artificial intelligence and machine learning continue to lead the way in digital transformation, transforming industries and redefining business capabilities. These technologies automate routine tasks and open up new horizons for innovation and service personalization. In particular, advanced data analytics allows for processing and analyzing huge volumes of data faster and more accurately than ever before. Personalization of the customer experience enables companies to create individualized offers for each customer, optimize the customer journey, and improve service. In turn, automation and process optimization not only increase enterprise efficiency but also significantly reduce the likelihood of errors.
Moreover, artificial intelligence also improves decision-making by providing organizations with deep and accurate analytical data for making more informed decisions. According to specialists from the leading digital transformation consulting company Avenga, a prominent example of successful AI and machine learning application is Amazon. The company uses artificial intelligence to personalize product recommendations for its customers. More specifically, machine learning systems analyze purchase history, search queries, and user behavior on the website to suggest the most relevant products and enhance the customer experience.
Process Automation and Robotics
Process automation and robotics are changing traditional approaches to business and production management. These technologies guarantee efficiency and cost reduction, increased accuracy and reliability of task execution, improved working conditions, integration with artificial intelligence, and the development of intelligent production. For example, Toyota has implemented robots on its production lines to automate assembly operations. This has increased productivity, reduced the likelihood of errors, and improved workplace safety for employees.
Cloud Technologies and Big Data
According to our interviewees, cloud technologies and big data analytics are the most significant trends in digital transformation, offering enterprises new ways to store, process, and analyze information to improve decision-making and business operations. The scalability and flexibility of cloud solutions allow companies to amplify their IT resources according to current needs, providing agility and cost optimization. Access to advanced analytical tools enables companies to better understand customer needs, optimize processes, and make informed strategic decisions.
Improving collaboration and communication contributes to better interaction between teams, regardless of their geographical location. Cloud technologies also offer advanced cybersecurity solutions, helping protect valuable data from external threats. Importantly, these technologies are available to companies of all sizes, not just large corporations.
Among successful examples of implementing this trend is Netflix. The company uses cloud computing and Big Data analytics to store and process huge volumes of video content, as well as to analyze user preferences and optimize its streaming service.
Cybersecurity
In the era of digital transformation, cybersecurity is a top priority for companies of all levels and industries. Hackers constantly refine their methods, using increasingly sophisticated ways to gain unauthorized access to corporate resources. Modern cybersecurity solutions aim to create integrated systems that can automatically detect, analyze, and respond to potential threats. Training employees in the principles and basics of cybersecurity becomes a necessity, as many attacks begin with social engineering or phishing.
Moreover, compliance with regulatory requirements and standards in cybersecurity, such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS, not only protects the company from fines but also enhances its business reputation. Developing and implementing a comprehensive strategy includes regular audits, monitoring, threat analysis, and rapid incident response. For example, CyberArk provides cybersecurity solutions, specializing in privileged access management and protection against internal threats. Their products protect critical assets and comply with compliance requirements.
Sustainable Development and Social Responsibility
Sustainable development and social responsibility are an integral part of the digital transformation strategy for companies, as consumers and investors increasingly choose brands that demonstrate care for social and environmental issues. A good example is Unilever, which has launched a sustainable development program to minimize its environmental footprint and improve the social well-being of the communities with which it interacts. The program specifically focuses on reducing waste in production, increasing energy efficiency, and supporting local farmers.
It is important to understand that digital transformation is not a one-time project but a continuous process that requires constant adaptation and innovation. The five key trends outlined by the experts from the consulting company Avenga emphasize the need for companies to be flexible, secure, innovative, and socially responsible in their approach to digital change. Understanding and embracing these trends will allow organizations not only to survive but also to thrive in a rapidly changing and increasingly digital world.
Deepfakes have jumped from the pages of science fiction to become a legitimate business risk that could influence polls in the upcoming UK election . That was one of the messages from Deryck Mitchelson, Global CISO at Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a leading AI-powered, cloud-delivered cyber security platform provider, when he spoke at the Cyber Leader Summit held in Belfast at the Titantic Belfast on the 14th of February. As these sophisticated manipulations proliferate, the integrity of democratic processes faces unprecedented challenges, highlighting the urgent need for robust defences against AI-driven disinformation campaigns.
The one-day event brought together over 110 delegates and experts from Check Point, Microsoft, GitHub and Women in Cyber Security, among others, to explore the biggest cyber threats facing organisations today. It is the first time the event has been held in Belfast, which is fast becoming a hub for major players in the technology space.
During his presentation, Deryck explored the topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in relation to cybercrime and its influence on attack methods. He discussed how it has evolved to become a serious instrument in a cybercriminal’s arsenal when executing phishing, ransomware or hacktivism campaigns. “AI is not a new notion; we have been using it as the brain behind our threat intelligence for many years, “said Deryck. “However, the technology has changed so rapidly over the last twelve months and new versions such as Generative AI (GenAI) have made it more attainable for cybercriminals. While these skills were once reserved for technically minded hackers, anyone with access to the internet and free online tools can now generate alarmingly realistic phishing emails with a few good prompts.”
Deryck went on to share examples of how deepfakes, including voice clones, have had an impact on businesses and could potentially influence major events such as the general elections later this year. There have been several incidents recently, including a worker in Hong Kong who paid out £20 million to a fraudster impersonating a CFO during a conference call. However, he was also clear that defenders are using AI to fight fire with fire. He added: “Deepfakes used to be the work of science fiction, but they are now a legitimate risk for businesses and their bank balances. They could also be used to influence public opinion during the upcoming elections.
“It is important that we don’t underestimate the potential impact this technology could have on organisations of all sizes. The good news is that companies like Check Point are leveraging the power of AI and Deep Learning to predict and prevent attacks from happening.”
In the morning, delegates also heard from other industry experts such as Lotem Finkelstein, Director of Threat Intelligence at Check Point. He provided insights into the world of hybrid cyberwarfare, demystifying the role of cybercrime during time of conflict. Other sessions included talks from Lesley Kipling, Chief Advisor at Microsoft on the importance of zero trust and Martin Woodward, VP of Developer Relations at GitHub regarding vulnerability fixes in open source.
The afternoon featured more presentations with Jennifer Cox, Director at Women in Cyber Security advocating for diversity in the industry, before the day finished on a panel discussion where experts covered a range of topics, including bringing new talent into the industry. This was a sentiment shared by Seamus McCorry, Check Point’s country manager, in his closing remarks. He was keen to emphasise the potential for Northern Ireland to become a cybersecurity powerhouse.
Seamus said: “We have a great pool of talent coming through our universities and it is important that we engage and encourage this new generation to live and work in this vibrant city. The cybersecurity industry is a thriving business, and together we can build a resilient future.”
Munster Technological University (MTU) and Cyber Ireland, in collaboration with the INGENIUM University alliance, is set to host an exhilarating Cybersecurity and Sustainability-themed Hackathon on the 12th and 13th of February at the Bishopstown Campus. In this dynamic event, 50 students from the INGENIUM University alliance, spanning 10 universities, including MTU, and multiple disciplines, will converge to tackle key challenges in cybersecurity and sustainability.
The hackathon focuses on addressing industry challenges in cybersecurity and sustainability, allowing students to gain a deeper understanding of real problems and develop potential solutions. The hackathon aims to foster collaboration and innovation among multidisciplinary international student teams and provide a practical application of academic knowledge. Participants will navigate the process of defining problems, developing solutions, fostering their entrepreneurial spirit, and presenting their work through impactful pitches. Cash prizes will be awarded for the best overall concept and the best pitch.
Teams will comprise five individuals, strategically selected to ensure a balanced academic background, with no team being exclusively composed of cybersecurity students. The teams will be formed from across INGENIUM, which is an alliance of ten universities from ten European countries, comprising 172,000 students and 15,000 staff. MTU proudly holds the position of a founding member of the INGENIUM Alliance and leads the Entrepreneurship workstream.
This event underscores MTU’s commitment to promoting regional, national and international partnerships and equipping students with the skills necessary to pursue and achieve their ambitions. With the collaboration and support of MTU’s External Affairs Office, Cyber Ireland and the MTU Innovation and Enterprise Office, this event promises to be an outstanding display of academic excellence and fun.
Dr. Sean McSweeney, MTU INGENIUM Coordinator said: “MTU is a very proud partner in the INGENIUM Alliance as we expand our global outlook and develop a better future for our students together.”
Eoin Byrne, Cyber Ireland Cluster Manager said: “The Hackathon aligns closely with Cyber Ireland’s goal of Developing the Workforce. We must make cybersecurity accessible with clear pathways and progression, while inspiring the next generation to consider a career in cybersecurity. It’s great to have the support from our industry partners who are key to the success of the event.”
Sponsors of the event have stated:
Rob Cameron, Cybereason: “Cybereason are delighted to sponsor this hackathon at MTU. As a company who believes in the growth of cybersecurity talent, witnessing the next generation of professionals emerge first hand is truly inspiring. A practical event like this gives a great platform to showcase their talent and skill sets and we are privileged to be a part of their journeys”.
Brian Ahern, Senior Manager, ISRM Training & Awareness, McKesson: “McKesson are delighted to sponsor the Cybersecurity Hackathon event in MTU which educates students on how to protect their future employers against evolving cybersecurity concerns.”
Louise MacIndoe, Security Program Director, Logitech: “Logitech is proud to support the Cyber Ireland and MTU Student Cybersecurity Hackathon 2024, providing an opportunity for young innovators to collaborate and create solutions for real-world problems. We are committed to nurturing the future generation of business & technology leaders, and events like this provide an excellent platform for doing so.”
Luke McDonnell, Head of PR, Huawei Technologies: “Developing the next generation of cyber-talent is important because Ireland has a great opportunity to become a cybersecurity leader in Europe. Hackathons challenge students to put their college learning into practice in a practical way and while technical skills and know-how are important, so too are the soft-skills that students will develop throughout the challenge, these skills cannot be understood and are essential for today’s modern graduate. Huawei is proud to support the Cyber Ireland and MTU Student Cybersecurity Hackathon 2024 and looks forward to seeing the students in action.”
Cyber Ireland, the leading national cyber security cluster organisation, has today launched a comprehensive strategy aimed at driving the growth of Ireland’s cyber security sector by 2030. With a proven track record since its establishment in 2019, Cyber Ireland has evolved into a national representative body, uniting over 160 member organisations, including start-ups, SMEs, multinational corporations, and educational institutions.
Originally conceived to address cyber security skills shortage as an initiative at Munster Technological University, Cyber Ireland has grown into a recognised industry force, hosting activities across four strategic workstreams and also responsible for organising the annual Cyber Ireland National Conference (CINC), the premier cyber security conference which attracts leading cyber security experts from across Ireland and the globe.
According to the State of the Cyber Security Sector 2022 report the cyber security sector in Ireland employs over 7,300 professionals working across nearly 500 companies contributing €1.1 billion annually to the economy. Ireland requires a strong domestic cyber security sector with companies of scale that can deliver high value services to provide cyber resilience for the country and compete internationally. This can build on existing strengths as the island of Ireland grows into an international hub in Europe for cyber security multinational operations and further increase FDI in cybersecurity.
There has been strong demand for cyber security skills over the past four years with a trebling of job roles advertised between 2019 and 2022, from 2,000 jobs advertised to 6,700 open roles. On a growth trajectory of 10%, the sector anticipates the creation of 10,000 additional jobs by 2030, totalling 17,000 in the sector, contributing €2.5 billion per annum to the economy. How this demand is met given the existing skills shortages and skills gaps will be central in making Ireland a leader for cyber security talent globally.
Pat Larkin, Chairperson of Cyber Ireland and President, Ekco Security, said, “There is an incredible opportunity in front of us. Analysts quantify the current Cyber Security market opportunity in or around 200-250BN USD with a 15% growth rate. A recent consultancy report estimates that the current vended market spend may be 10 times under penetrated and thus the addressable market may be between 1.5 and 2 trillion USD.”
“No matter how you look at it, we cannot capture or service even a small percentage of that addressable market currently as individual entities. By working together as an industry sector we have a massive opportunity to capture a greater share of this market from Ireland, through Cyber Ireland,” Larkin added.
Eoin Byrne, Cluster Manager Cyber Ireland, said, “We have established the cyber security cluster as the representative body and coordinator of industry in Ireland, and are now recognised in Europe with our Cluster Management Excellence Award. We have quantified for the first time the size, scale and contribution that the cyber security sector makes to Ireland inc. and its potential for growth.
We now need to take Cyber Ireland, and the cyber security sector, to the next level by working with the wider ecosystem across industry, government, academia, training providers, research, investors and industry associations to drive business growth and position Ireland as a global leader,” Byrne said.
The opportunity now exists for Ireland to capitalise on its cyber security strengths and competitive advantages to develop a leading cyber security sector in Europe, and globally, providing resilience domestically and competing internationally. Cyber Ireland aims to be the driving force to deliver on Ireland’s cyber potential through the implementation of its new cluster strategy 2024 – 2027. The new strategy has four Focus Areas across Building the Community, Driving Business Growth, Developing the Workforce, and Advocacy and Promotion.
The cluster has recently been accredited with the European Cluster Excellence Initiative (ECEI) Bronze Label for “Striving for Cluster Excellence” by improving its management capabilities and performance levels. Cyber Ireland joins over 1,000 cluster organisations from 45 countries that have been benchmarked and received the award. The recognition will create additional opportunities for the cluster to promote the sector and engage with European organisations and clusters, and secure European funding.
