Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ireland can now apply for funding to boost their cybersecurity efforts. The National Cybersecurity Centre (NCSC) reported more than 700 cyber incidents in the country last year, with none deemed severely high risk.
Minister of State for the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications Ossian Smyth, TD, launched the annual update, which includes insights from various Government departments and agencies on their cybersecurity initiatives. The NCSC issued over 8,000 notices to the public about vulnerable systems and conducted nearly 1,400 “threat hunts” in 2023.
In response to public demand for more transparency, Smyth unveiled a new €2m cybersecurity improvement fund for SMEs. The NCC-IE Cybersecurity Improvement Grant, co-funded by the EU’s Digital Europe Programme, offers financial support for companies to enhance their IT systems and protect against cyber threats.
Joseph Stephens, director of resilience at the NCSC, emphasized the importance of investing in cybersecurity for small businesses as cyber threats become more sophisticated. The initiative aligns with the EU’s Network & Information Security 2 (NIS2) Directive, which outlines cybersecurity obligations for organizations.
Recent reports have shown that Irish businesses face an increasing number of cyberattacks, highlighting the need for stronger cybersecurity measures. Smyth emphasized the importance of securing operations in today’s digital economy.
The current National Cybersecurity Strategy, in place since 2019, aims to protect Government data and critical infrastructure. The new funding for SMEs will help them take meaningful steps towards enhancing their cybersecurity measures.