Tag: Digital

The Best Types of Cryptocurrencies to Buy

In today’s financial landscape, cryptocurrencies have emerged as formidable players, revolutionizing wealth generation and transaction methods. From the titans like Bitcoin and Ethereum to the myriad of altcoins numbering over a thousand, each digital asset boasts unique attributes. To navigate this complex ecosystem, one must immerse oneself in market intelligence, scrutinize performance metrics, and identify which tokens resonate with individual financial aspirations.

Deciphering the Cryptographic Maze

The cryptosphere now hosts an astounding 5,000+ digital currencies, with new entries constantly emerging. When venturing into this realm, remember that diversification is your North Star – no single coin rules supreme. These digital assets serve diverse purposes across multiple sectors. Placing all your eggs in one cryptographic basket is a recipe for potential disaster. By weaving a tapestry of varied assets, you mitigate risks and position yourself to ride the next wave of crypto prominence.

In your quest for the ideal digital asset, ponder the intricate dance of value, liquidity, and market volatility. Ensure your chosen coins align seamlessly with your financial objectives. For those drawn to the art of trading, gravitate towards assets with substantial presence on reputable platforms like ChangeHero.io. While advanced options may promise greater yields, they demand a deeper well of knowledge and often exhibit heightened volatility and growth patterns.

Bitcoin: The Digital Gold Standard

Bitcoin reigns supreme in the crypto kingdom, often hailed as the patriarch of digital currencies. It stands as a global peer-to-peer financial network, offering an ideal entry point for crypto neophytes. Bitcoin’s unparalleled liquidity ensures seamless transitions between digital and fiat realms. Despite its notorious price swings, it remains a beacon of relative stability in the tumultuous crypto seas.

To better understand Bitcoin’s price movement and potential future trends, many traders look to tools like the BTC rainbow chart, which provides a visual representation of Bitcoin’s historical price data. Bitcoin’s innovative consensus mechanism has garnered favor among miners, who reap rewards for their role in maintaining the blockchain’s integrity. Commanding a staggering 60% of the total market capitalization, Bitcoin continues to be a cornerstone investment for 2022 and beyond. Its unrivaled momentum and enduring popularity cement its position at the pinnacle of the crypto hierarchy.

Litecoin: The Digital Silver

Enter Litecoin, a venerable player that emerged in Bitcoin’s wake. With a decade-long track record, it harnesses Bitcoin’s foundational code while introducing its own technical nuances. Litecoin aspires to be a global peer-to-peer currency, boasting substantial liquidity and market presence. Its established position offers a more secure haven compared to its smaller, more volatile counterparts. Whether you’re looking to diversify from BTC to LTC, the latter stands out as a strong contender in the crypto space.

Capped at 84 million coins, quadruple Bitcoin’s supply, Litecoin offers enhanced block rewards and accelerated transaction processing. Often dubbed the silver to Bitcoin’s gold, Litecoin has carved its niche as a faster, more cost-effective alternative, earning its spot as a top investment pick for 2022.

Ethereum: The Smart Contract Vanguard

Ethereum stands as another titan in the crypto arena, spearheading the smart contract revolution. These self-executing agreements, etched into the blockchain, have spawned over 1,000 tokens on Ethereum’s robust platform. Its significant liquidity and consistent second or third-place ranking in market cap ensure hassle-free trading.

Ethereum’s price trajectory showcases stability coupled with long-term growth potential. As the leader in smart contract platforms, it remains a prime investment target. Despite its maturity, Ethereum’s relevance and popularity show no signs of waning in 2023. Those seeking to convert SOL to ETH should explore recommended exchange platforms and processes.

Binance Coin: The Utility Token Phenomenon

Binance Coin (BNB) has surged in popularity, distinguishing itself from Bitcoin and Litecoin as a utility token prized for its practical applications. Conceived by Binance’s visionary founder, BNB boasts impressive liquidity, high market ranking, and burgeoning trade volumes. It exhibits price stability while consistently appreciating over time.

Initially minted at 200 million tokens priced at $0.10 each, BNB offers ongoing discounts to holders (currently at 6.75%). As its use cases expand, driving up demand and price, BNB stands as a solid investment. Its rapid growth, fueled by its integral role in the Binance ecosystem, makes it a compelling addition to any diversified crypto portfolio.

BAT: Revolutionizing Digital Attention

The Basic Attention Token (BAT) has carved out its niche as a popular medium for content creator remuneration. It facilitates both recurring and one-time web-based tipping. Additionally, BAT rewards users for viewing ads, distributed through the privacy-centric Brave browser.

While BAT’s liquidity fluctuates, it consistently ranks among the top 40 cryptocurrencies. Its price stability relative to other tokens makes it an attractive option for gradual accumulation. With over 1.5 billion tokens in circulation and growing demand, BAT’s price trajectory warrants close attention. The token’s active utilization grows in tandem with the Brave browser’s increasing popularity.

Monero: The Privacy Paragon

Monero stands at the forefront of privacy-focused cryptocurrencies, employing cutting-edge cryptography to shield user identities. Its popularity on the dark web stems from its robust anonymity features. Monero’s genesis was shrouded in secrecy, with its creators remaining anonymous to this day. It maintains high liquidity and a strong market position.

Catering to the growing demand for financial privacy, Monero boasts a substantial user base and market capitalization while offering relative stability compared to smaller, more volatile coins. Its role in facilitating anonymous transactions ensures ongoing demand, despite its aging technology. Monero’s enduring popularity and liquidity make it a top contender for privacy-conscious investors.

NEO: The Eastern Blockchain Giant

For those seeking to diversify further, consider NEO – a seasoned smart contract platform with a more centralized structure than Ethereum, yet maintaining its position among the top 25 coins with substantial liquidity.

With a total supply of over 200 million NEO, including 50 million allocated to early investors and 15 million earmarked for development, NEO has set its sights on dominating the vast Chinese market. Positioned as a hedge against Ethereum, NEO continues to be a relevant and popular choice in the ever-evolving crypto landscape.

Beam: The New Face of Privacy

Beam emerges as a privacy-centric alternative to Monero, leveraging a novel blockchain protocol to enhance scalability and transaction speed without compromising anonymity. Despite its lower market capitalization, Beam maintains high liquidity due to active investor engagement.

While Beam’s price exhibits stability, its relative novelty introduces the potential for sudden value fluctuations, presenting both opportunity and risk. Employing a mining mechanism similar to Bitcoin and Litecoin, Beam has quickly gained traction among privacy advocates in the crypto community.

 

Immerse yourself in the future of Artificial Intelligence at the ‘ExploreAI’ pop-up exhibition!

Dive into the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at a special pop-up event, ‘Explore AI’, which is taking place as part of European Researchers’ Night on Friday 27th September at Trinity College Dublin.  Run by the ADAPT Centre for AI-Driven Digital Content Technology, researchers will offer lively discussions, thought-provoking interactions, and cutting-edge AI research demos on the transformative impact of AI. The pop-up exhibition forms part of Trinity’s Start Talking About Research Today (START) event to celebrate European Researchers Night.

From 4-8 pm, the Douglas Hyde Gallery in Trinity will be transformed into a dynamic space where AI meets creativity, health, and entertainment. The event will also include Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpreting. All ages will be catered for and visitors will be invited to contribute to live research experiments and discussions. The event allows researchers to showcase their work to the public using interactive and engaging techniques. Access to the 4 pm – 8 pm exhibition is free, but you should register here.

Event highlights include:

 Art or AI? Museum of Very Modern Art

Can you tell a human masterpiece from an AI-generated one? In this thought-provoking exhibit, AI art tools like DALL-E and Midjourney will test your ability to discern machine-made creations from the works of legendary artists.

From virtual to reality… and back!

What happens to your body when you trick your mind into thinking you’re moving while sitting still and wearing a VR visor? Immerse yourself in this incredible experience and feel the shift as you embody a virtual avatar in a simulated world. As your senses adjust, explore different body types, skin colours, and actions that will leave you questioning the boundaries between the physical and virtual. It’s an unmissable chance to experience how your mind and body respond to virtual environments.

AI Dilemma Cafe 

Grab a coffee and join in thought-provoking discussions about how AI shapes our everyday lives. What are the benefits, challenges, and ethical dilemmas? It’s the café chat you never knew you needed.

Throughout the evening, there will also be pop-up talks and interactive exhibits on ADAPT’s latest research, offering a rare chance to see the future of AI up close.

The START Festival is part of European Researchers’ Night, a Europe-wide public engagement programme funded by the European Union. Run in nearly 30 countries across Europe, the Irish event is hosted by Trinity College Dublin in partnership with the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland and ADAPT.

Coimisiún na Meán opens review of online platforms’ compliance with EU Digital Services Act

Coimisiún na Meán is concerned that people are having difficulty reporting illegal content to online platforms. Under the Digital Services Act, online platforms are required to act on reports of illegal content in line with the law. This concern comes following an initial review, alongside information gathered from An Coimisiún’s Contact Centre and complaints passed on by other European regulators. An Coimisiún is now initiating a formal review of online platforms’ systems, to ensure that the platforms are complying with their obligations under the EU Digital Services Act (DSA).

Under the DSA, online platforms must have easy to access and user-friendly ways for users to report illegal content (Article 16 of the DSA). They must also have a clear and accessible point of contact for users to contact them (Article 12). Coimisiún na Meán is responsible for making sure that all platforms with their EU headquarters in Ireland follow these rules, while working closely with the European Commission and other online safety regulators across Europe.

Coimisiún na Meán has now issued formal requests for information to a range of platforms for further comprehensive detail on their approach to reporting options for illegal content and points of contact for users. Once the information gathering phase is complete, Coimisiún na Meán will engage with the platforms to ensure that their reporting mechanisms and point of contacts comply with the requirements of the DSA. Where concerns remain, Coimisiún na Meán can issue a compliance notice directing platforms to address any shortcomings identified in their systems and processes. If this does not lead to changes and improvements, An Coimisiún can open a formal investigation. If the investigation leads to a finding of non-compliance, Coimisiún na Meán can impose sanctions, such as a fine. An Coimisiún can also enter into a binding commitment agreement with a platform, in which the platform gives undertakings to bring its behaviour into line with the law.

John Evans, Digital Services Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán, said “The DSA is a landmark law aimed at creating a safer and fairer online environment for users. However, its effectiveness for Irish and EU citizens hinges on the full implementation of its provisions by platforms. Of the complaints we have from people in Ireland and across Europe about online platforms, one in three are about problems when reporting illegal content online. We are intervening now to ensure that platforms follow the rules so that people can effectively exercise their rights under the DSA.’’

Niamh Hodnett, Online Safety Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán, said “We are committed to using the full range of powers available under our Online Safety Framework to hold platforms to account for keeping people safe online. Through the DSA, our upcoming Online Safety Code and the EU Terrorist Content Online Regulation, we are working towards a digital landscape where adults and children can go online without fear of being harmed by the content or behaviour they come across. When people see illegal content, they should report it to the platform where they saw it and if they aren’t satisfied with the platform’s response, or if they can’t find an easy way to report the content, they should get in touch with us.”

The platforms being contacted at this point are:

Info

 

 

Platform Article 12 Article 16
TikTok Yes Yes
X Yes Yes – where there is no overlap with ongoing European Commission investigation
YouTube Yes Yes
Meta Yes No, subject to an ongoing European Commission investigation
LinkedIn Yes Yes
Temu Yes Yes
Pinterest Yes Yes
Shein Yes No, subject to an ongoing European Commission review
Etsy Yes Yes
Dropbox Yes Yes
Hostelworld Yes Yes
Tumblr Yes Yes

Parenting in a Digital World: Vodafone Foundation in Ireland launches parents’ guide to help keep children safe online

The Vodafone Foundation in Ireland has announced the launch of a new guide for parents and guardians which aims to provide resources to ensure children are kept safe in the digital world.

The ’Parenting in a Digital World’ guide has been designed to empower parents and guardians in navigating the complexities of devices and digital safety. It is available for free, both in Vodafone stores nationwide and online at www.vodafone.ie.

The new resource provides practical advice and insights on key topics such as setting up parental controls, building digital resilience and addressing cyberbullying. Recognising the growing concerns around children’s online activities, the Vodafone Foundation has developed this guide to help parents make informed decisions and take proactive steps to protect their children online.

Key Features of the Guide Include:

  • Advice on building digital resilience to help children cope with negative online experiences.
  • Guidance on navigating cyberbullying: How to recognise the signs and what actions to take if a child is a victim.
  • Tools for safe connectivity: Options for basic phones with limited internet access for children.
  • Partnership resources: Information on additional support available through Vodafone’s partnerships with the ISPCC and Dublin City University Anti-Bullying Centre.
  • Step-by-Step instructions on how to use parental controls and the Vodafone Secure Net app to manage a child’s online experience.

Speaking about the new parents’ guide, Head of the Vodafone Foundation, Liz Roche said: “Connectivity brings many benefits. Yet, we know that the decision as to when a child is ready to access the digital world on their own devices can be a difficult one.

Our parents’ guide is designed to make it easier for parents and guardians to manage their child’s online activities while fostering a safe and positive digital environment. Whether it’s understanding the importance of digital resilience for their child or learning how to set up parental controls, this guide has everything parents need to feel confident about their child’s online safety.”

ISPCC Childline Chief Executive John Church said “ISPCC is delighted to support the Vodafone Foundation in Ireland as it launches this timely guide for parents to keep their children safe online.

The online landscape is ever-changing, and that’s a scary prospect for even the most tech-savvy of parents. The pressure on young people is ever present. This guide will be an extremely useful resource for parents wanting to equip their children with the necessary skills to navigate the online world safely.

At the ISPCC we are proud to partner with the Vodafone Foundation as we strive to support parents to ensure that children and young people have positive experiences online.”

The Tozi app – An additional online resource for children:

The Vodafone Foundation has also reminded parents and guardians that among the resources available to them is the Tozi App which helps children understand the impact their digital lives may be having on their mental wellbeing.

In partnership with Dublin City University’s Anti-Bullying Centre and the ISPCC, the Tozi App offers support for children and young people by educating them on how to be safe and well online, while offering instant support if they need it. The Tozi app is available for free download and usage from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

The Vodafone ‘Parenting in a Digital World’ guide is available to download here: V5128K09627_VF_OnlineSafety_A5_WEB.pdf (vodafone.ie)

For more information, visit www.vodafone.ie or drop by your nearest Vodafone store.

Ireland’s Digital Readiness Monitor Launched

.ie, the trusted national registry for over 330,000 domain names, has launched Ireland’s Digital Readiness Monitor, which analyses the level of digital sophistication of websites in Ireland, and has revealed that 36% of websites in Ireland have a low or very low level of sophistication.

Ireland’s Digital Readiness Monitor which includes websites using the .ie domain, as well as those using .com, .co.uk or any other extension, presents a comprehensive picture of Ireland’s digital readiness with research conducted by .ie in partnership with the Irish Institute of Digital Business, DCU and the JE Cairnes School of Business and Economics at University of Galway.

The Digital Readiness Monitor introduces a new national measure of digital readiness – the Web Technology Intensity Score (WTIS). The WTIS is comprised of eleven indicators that measure the digital readiness of organisations in Ireland including basic website; website with sophisticated functionality; websites with evidence of basic analytics, sophisticated analytics, social media integration, mobile optimisation, online advertising, sophisticated online advertising, internationalisation, selling online and cloud computing.

The Government’s digital strategy, Harnessing Digital: The Digital Ireland Framework, aims to position Ireland as a European and global digital leader. SMEs make up the majority of Irish businesses and the ability of Irish SMEs to adopt sophisticated digital technologies will be fundamental to increasing Ireland’s digital competitiveness.

The report reveals that 36% of websites in Ireland have a low or very low level of sophistication despite various Government grants and programmes to support digital advancement. A website and associated technologies are a proxy for an organisation’s degree of digitalisation, so this statistic demonstrates that SMEs’ websites are under-developed.

At the other end of the spectrum, one in four websites (27%) have a high or very high level of sophistication, showing there is considerable room for improvement.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke said “Ireland has outlined its ambition to be a digital leader, reflecting the key role that digital technology does and will continue to play in shaping our competitiveness and driving productivity. The findings of this report demonstrates that we must continue to drive the digital agenda, ensuring digitalisation and technology remains a priority across all facets of Irish enterprise. My department has implemented a number of grants to support SMEs on their digital transformation – the Digital Transition Fund which will continue to be rolled out to 2026 is particularly supportive of SMEs while the Grow Digital portal is up and running to help businesses assess their digital needs. Together with my colleagues in Government, we remain committed to supporting enterprise in Ireland.”

Speaking on the report findings, David Curtin, Chief Executive at .ie said “The development of the WTIS measure marks a significant step forward in understanding the levels of sophistication of websites in Ireland. Despite the many Government supports in place, it is dispiriting to see that 36% of websites in Ireland have a low or very low Web Technology Intensity Score. For Irish SMEs, digital technologies present the potential of the ‘death of distance’, overcoming the limitations of location for Irish rural and urban businesses. However, there is evidence of a digital divide based on location, sector and size. In order to drive increased adoption of digital technologies by all businesses, but specifically micro SMEs with less than 10 employees, a supportive digital ecosystem optimised for SMEs is going to be required and we need the financial support of Government and key stakeholders to help make that happen.

 Ireland’s Digital Readiness Monitor – Key Findings

 Online Advertising

  • Less than 1% of websites in Ireland make use of sophisticated online advertising tools which utilise targeting techniques to reach specific audience segments
  • The WTIS measured both basic and more sophisticated forms of online advertising being utilised by websites in Ireland

Social Media and Mobile Friendliness

  • The vast majority of websites in Ireland made use of social media integration on their websites
  • Facebook integrated into over 86% of websites analysed in 2021 and 74% in 2022 followed by Twitter (avg. 33%), Instagram (avg. 22%), LinkedIn (15%), and YouTube (13%)
  • Integrating social media into websites acts as a form of social proof, where users can see real-time interactions with the organisation. The motivation for more sophisticated use of social technologies includes increased access and reach to markets, cost reduction and process optimisation
  • It was also reassuring to see that Irish businesses recognise the value of mobile optimisation as part of their offering. While the percentage of domains optimised for mobile has dropped from 68% to 63%, the raw number of mobile-friendly domains has increased suggesting that Irish firms recognise the importance of mobile readiness. Google reports that for many advertisers, a substantial volume of website traffic comes from people on their mobile phones and visitors are five times more likely to leave a website that is not mobile-friendly

 Internationalisation

  • The WTIS measures foreign language support and foreign currency support as signals for internationalisation.
  • These factors indicate an organisation’s commitment to expanding its presence in the global market along with an ambition to move beyond local or regional markets
  • The Digital Readiness Monitor found that less than 10% of websites demonstrate evidence of international activity

Associate Dean of Research, DCU Business School, Professor Theo Lynn said “The Digital Readiness Monitor is a critical methodology and tool for understanding the digital landscape in Ireland. By establishing the Web Technology Intensity Score (WTIS), we can now quantitatively assess and track the digital sophistication and evolution of organisations across the country and compare it with other countries. This study not only highlights the gaps in digital adoption but also provides a roadmap for improvement. In a rapidly evolving digital economy, such insights are essential for guiding SMEs and other businesses in leveraging technology to enhance their competitiveness, both locally and on the global stage.”

Ireland’s Digital Readiness Monitor can be viewed here.

Irish digital solutions provider Storm Technology acquired by Littlefish

Storm Technology, the market-leading digital solutions provider, today announces that it has been acquired by Littlefish, an award-winning managed IT and cyber security services provider.

Founded in 1995, to help Irish organisations on their digital transformation journey, Storm Technology has established itself as one of the leading Microsoft business technology consultancies in Ireland. Driving client success for both public and private sector clients across island of Ireland through its 160-strong team, extensive Microsoft solutions portfolio and a carefully curated partner network.

Since it was established in Nottingham in 2003, Littlefish has become an award-winning managed IT and cyber security services provider and has grown its team to nearly 650 people. Its expertise in managed IT services, cyber security, cloud services and strategic consultancy has driven the company’s growth and reputation in both the private and public sector markets in the UK.  

The acquisition will further strengthen Storm Technology’s service portfolio for both new and existing clients in Ireland, particularly within the managed IT services and cyber security space, and facilitate future growth, enabling the delivery of its business solutions to the UK market. Similarly, the deal will allow Littlefish to address the growing demand for business focused Microsoft solutions and expand its customer base in Ireland via Storm Technology.

In turn, this will see both companies extend their capabilities across larger scale projects and to a wider breadth of clients. Together, Storm Technology and Littlefish will continue to deliver industry leading services to existing customers across the areas of managed IT services, cloud services, and strategic consultancy.

Karl Flannery, CEO, Storm Technology, said: “Joining forces with Littlefish marks an exciting step in our business and client journey, supporting our growth ambition and facilitating entry to the UK market, while reaffirming our commitment to the delivery of maximum client impact with the expansion of our existing capabilities – creating an end-to-end digital operating platform.

“Our team and clients have been an integral part of our journey, and it was important to us that any partnership would build upon the values that have underpinned operations since we first opened in 1995, including unrivalled customer experience and operational excellence. We are confident that we have found that partner in Littlefish. I look forward to this exciting next stage of the Storm Technology journey alongside Littlefish, our valued team, clients, and partners.”

Steve Robinson, CEO, Littlefish, added: “As a business, we’ve evolved from a bedroom startup to ‘the’ superior alternative to the multi-billion-pound, IT outsourcers, providing award-winning services and a world-class customer experience. This acquisition marks the next part of our success story, expanding our presence and footprint with a like-minded organisation and services that will materially enhance our Microsoft business solution capabilities.  

“As well as a shared passion for delivering service excellence and genuine business value for customers through tailored solutions, Storm Technology shares our people-centric, expertise-led approach. I would like to extend a warm welcome to Karl and his talented team to Littlefish. We are very much looking forward to collaborating, innovating and growing together in both the Irish and UK markets.”

Teen-Turn launch 2024 summer work experience programme

Teen-Turn,  an EU wide digital impact organisation of the year, connects girls from underrepresented communities with women who are STEM role models at Ireland’s leading companies for summer work placements called “Teenturnships” in order to tackle the deficit of young women in STEM.

This year, Teen-Turn’s program commenced with 81 girls being introduced to their mentors. These mentors are accomplished women who are STEM professionals, including engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity and AI specialists, and senior managers from prominent companies such as Dell, BNY Mellon, Hostelworld, BD, Aptiv, Bearing Point, and Trane Technologies Thermoking.

The participating girls, from DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), rural, and underserved schools across Ireland, will engage in a two-week immersive experience in August. During this period, they will work on STEM projects under the guidance of their women-in-STEM mentors, gaining firsthand experience.

Teen-Turn believes that more girls, from areas where third level education is uncommon, exploring and gaining an interest in STEM will lead to more women earning STEM qualifications, therefore meeting a demand for skills that is outpacing supply.

Throughout the program, participants will learn from their mentors and engage in various activities each workday. Additionally, they will document and share their experiences through blogging, providing insights into their journey and the impact of the program.

Irish businesses continue to face challenges in complying with the General Data Protection Regulation

Irish businesses continue to face challenges in complying with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), six years on from its introduction, according to new research. The findings were presented by Forvis Mazars and McCann FitzGerald LLP in their latest joint survey, “GDPR and Digital Legislation: A Survey of the Impact and Effect on Organisations in Ireland”.

The research, which was conducted by Ipsos B&A, found that just 15% of businesses consider their organisation to be ‘fully compliant’ with the legislation, which is billed as the toughest privacy and security law in the world. A further 58% of respondents indicated their organisation was ‘materially compliant’, and 25% say their organisation was ‘somewhat compliant’. In order to achieve their compliance targets, half of the businesses surveyed believe they need more resourcing, financial investments or further expertise in this space.

The research also found that 82% of respondents believe the risks associated with GDPR non-compliance are increasing, with respondents citing ‘reputational risk’ as the most important factor in determining an organisation’s data protection risk appetite, followed by ‘fear of fines’. Eight in 10 (81%) of the businesses surveyed say they intend to improve their compliance status.

This is the eighth edition of the Forvis Mazars and McCann FitzGerald LLP annual survey on the impact of GDPR on organisations in Ireland. As well as examining the latest perceptions among Irish businesses regarding GDPR compliance, the report also assesses awareness and readiness for a wave of new legislative developments from the European Union in response to rapid technological changes.

Findings show that 60% of those surveyed are concerned about the impact of new digital legislation on their organisation, which includes DORA (the Digital Operational Resilience Act), the AI Act, the Data Act, the Data Governance Act, the Digital Services Act, the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, the Digital Markets Act, the Network and Information Security Directive 2 (NIS2) and the Cyber Resilience Act. There is also a high degree of uncertainty regarding the new legislation with many respondents being unsure of their applicability to their business, which suggests further education and awareness is required within organisations.

Key Findings:

  • 82% of respondents agree that the risks associated with GDPR non-compliance are increasing, up from 70% in last year’s survey.
  • 81% of respondents intend on improving their compliance status.
  • 59% of respondents are concerned about the prospect of being fined for GDPR non-compliance, compared to 58% in last year’s survey.
  • 47% of respondents agree that working to comply with GDPR has delivered many benefits for their organisation, up from 34% last year.
  • Over half of the respondents (52%) say that the CEO of their organisation is strongly engaged in GDPR compliance and data privacy, compared to 50% in 2023.
  • Six out of 10 respondents are concerned about upcoming digital legislation.
  • 63% of respondents indicated that the AI Act will apply to their organisation.

Liam McKenna, Partner in Consulting Services at Forvis Mazars, said: “This survey underscores the essential need for organisations to remain up to date with both current and forthcoming regulations in the digital space. Irish businesses must diligently maintain their compliance initiatives, particularly amid the significant financial and reputational risks at stake.

“Although GDPR regulations were implemented in 2018, that only 15% of Irish companies are fully compliant is a concern for Irish business, particularly in light of further digital legislation coming down the tracks including the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), AI Act, Data Act, and Digital Services Act, among others. Irish companies therefore need to urgently focus on GDPR adherence, while actively gearing up for new legislative requirements.”

Paul Lavery, Partner at McCann FitzGerald LLP, added: “The effectiveness of the GDPR as one of the toughest data privacy laws in the word is perhaps evidenced by the fact that organisations are still actively working on improving their compliance six years on. It is much more than a tick the box exercise and staying on the right side of these complex requirements will require ongoing attention and focus by Irish organisations.

“The good news is that this experience will serve businesses well as they prepare for new legislation coming down the track from the European Union. Legislating for rapidly changing technologies such as AI is no easy task, and we can expect regulations around data, AI, cyber resilience, information security and digital services to continue to evolve in the coming years.”

The report was launched this morning by Forvis Mazars and McCann FitzGerald LLP, joined by Graham Doyle, Deputy Commissioner, Data Protection Commission, at the offices of McCann FitzGerald LLP. It can be read in full here.

Trinity College Dublin Launches €1.3M ‘Twilight’ Project: Revolutionising Optical Networks with Digital Twins

Trinity College Dublin announces the launch of the €1.3 million ‘Twilight’ project, aiming to revolutionise optical networks with cutting-edge digital twin technology, enabling rapid and disruption-free advancements.

Minister for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan TD, has recently announced 28 funding awards valued at €34 million to support research across seven Higher Education Institutions.

One of the awarded projects is Twilight: Twin Lightpaths, A Digital Twin Framework For Full Automation Of Disaggregated Optical Networks. Marco Ruffini, Professor at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Principal Investigator in the CONNECT Centre, and lead author of the project proposal, emphasises the project’s transformative potential:

“Optical networks are the lifeblood of the internet. They must evolve to support the ever-increasing usage of the internet and digital innovations like Smart Cities and Virtual/Augmented Reality. Twilight’s digital twin project will ensure safe, rapid advancements without network disruption.

We are grateful to Minister O’Donovan for supporting this important initiative. I would also like to thank our colleagues from HEAnet and GÉANT who supported us and are going to be collaborating with us on this project.”

HEAnet, Ireland’s National Education and Research Network, manages a national optical network of over 2,500 km, which is a central part of Ireland’s national research infrastructure. HEAnet has collaborated with the SFI Connect Centre over many years, providing connectivity services and research demonstrations on the HEAnet production network. .

In 2022, HEAnet connected directly to Prof. Ruffini’s Open Ireland test network at Trinity College Dublin. This has provided Prof. Ruffini’s group with access to the production HEAnet optical network while also enabling HEAnet to gain valuable insights into the characteristics of the HEAnet production network. HEAnet connects to the GÉANT pan-European research and education network in both Dublin and Cork. The Twilight project will provide optical connectivity from the Open Ireland test bed to the GÉANT optical network via the HEAnet network for the first time.  

Eoin Kenny, Innovation and R&D Manager at HEAnet, highlights the project’s efficiency: 

“Planning network changes has always been challenging. Twilight’s digital twin will streamline this process, save time and help HEAnet to optimise our network resources.

We are very pleased with the work carried out on the OpenIreland research infrastructure and look forward to continuing this close collaboration.”

HEAnet is a member of GÉANT, the collaboration of European National Research and Education Networks (NRENs), who interconnects Europe’s NRENs with the high bandwidth, high speed and highly resilient pan-European backbone, together connecting Europe’s researchers, academics and students to each other, and linking them to over half the countries in the world.

Guy Roberts, Senior Transport Network Architect at GÉANT also expressed enthusiasm for the Twilight project: 

“The future for anyone working with optical networks looks bright with all the new technologies on our side. We are continually dealing with the issues of dynamic provisioning of optical paths. Despite making extensive use of optical equipment vendors’ planning tools, we have discovered anomalous situations that can lead to some level of service disruption.

GÉANT will work with TCD and HEAnet to provide measurements to train the digital twin algorithms, help with any fine-tuning and carry out experiments on the use cases we have jointly defined.”

To learn more about the Twilight project or to get involved, contact marco.ruffini@tcd.ie.