Cybersecurity chief says Ireland is under attack right now

Richard Browne tells Cormac O’Keeffe the National Cyber Security Centre is growing to face down the threat from hostile states and cybercriminals, often using artificial intelligence

Last month, ENISA highlighted AI-generated cyberattacks impersonating trusted people via social media, and noted a high volume of disinformation associated with Russia's war on Ukraine.

At a time when resourcing and staffing are key problems for public services in Ireland — including security agencies — the State’s cybersecurity body continues to expand. That’s not to say that the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has not suffered neglect — and that it was not until 2020 that its future began to look brighter.

A capacity review conducted in that year, and published in July 2021, came just a few months after the crippling cyberattack on the HSE.