Government 'very vigilant' to cyberattack risk after Stryker hit by hacker group

Stryker's site in Carrigtwohill, Co Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said cybersecurity threats are a “constant”, following a cyberattack at multinational firm Stryker.

Last week, the US surgical equipment firm was left at a standstill, after a cyberattack was carried out by the Iranian-linked Handala organisation in response to the Middle East conflict.

Stryker chief executive Kevin Lobo said the cyberattack had now been “fully contained” following around-the-clock efforts by IT experts, but the company must continue a “restoration phase" before normal operations could resume.

Speaking in Philadelphia, Mr Martin said the Government remains “very vigilant” to the risk of cyberattacks, citing the ongoing work of the national cybersecurity centre.

Asked if he was concerned about further attacks on Irish companies or state agencies in the wake of the Stryker cyberattack, Mr Martin said the Government is very conscious of the risks.

“We are very vigilant, and we work with other countries. In fact, we discussed with the British prime minister Keir Starmer that very issue at some length, in terms of how the UK and Ireland, for example, can collaborate and cooperate on resilience around cyber security attacks,” Mr Martin said.

“Obviously, the war in the Middle East gives an added dimension to it, but it's been constant. I mean, the cyberwarfare has been constant over quite a number of years, and so we have to build up our defences.

“But bear in mind that those very said companies, particularly on the technology side, give Ireland a lot of strength as well, because a lot of the work around cybersecurity is through our national centre," he said.

“In fact, we have very strong clusters of companies who were very strong in terms of neutralising cyberattacks and in the cybersecurity area as well." 

Asked if he believed cybersecurity threats were increasing as Ireland prepares for its EU presidency, Mr Martin: “I’m not sure whether it's an increased threat level or not, to be honest.” 

Mr Martin cited the previous cyberattacks against Ireland, particularly highlighting the HSE cyberattack, which “paralysed our health service”.

“It’s a very serious issue for us on an ongoing basis,” Mr Martin said.

Meanwhile, Tánaiste Simon Harris warned that “Ireland is not immune from cyberattacks”.

Mr Harris was asked by the Irish Examiner in London whether Ireland was at risk of becoming a target due to the usage of the Shannon Airport by US troops and whether the Stryker attack was the tip of the iceberg.

“Yes, we're a militarily unaligned country, we're a militarily neutral country, but that doesn't provide you with some sort of layer of protection,” he said.

“It's why we need to continue to invest in security. It's why we need to continue to invest in defence. It's why we need to continue to invest in cybersecurity.

“What I'd certainly say, from an economic point of view, to those investing in Ireland, and indeed to all businesses in Ireland, this is an area that we take extraordinarily seriously.

“We've beefed up significantly our resources into cyber security, and we intend to continue to do that.” 

Mr Harris also warned that Ireland should not do anything that would “reward terror” when asked if it would be prudent to reevaluate our close relationship with the United States.