Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 July 2013
163. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will reassure Dáil Éireann as to the security of the e-mail systems in his Department subsequent to recent reports of US intelligence agencies accessing e-mail and other digital content; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32537/13]
View answerMy Department employs a multi layered approach to email security. The Department's email servers are held in secure premises. External emails are processed and scanned initially by Government Networks firewalls and subsequently by the Department's own firewalls. Both Government Networks and my Department have realtime email anti-virus and anti-spam systems in place. Emails between my Department and other Government Departments' email servers remain within the Government's private network. In addition, the following security measures are applied:
-DCENR uses encryption for email communications with some organisations, as appropriate.
-All DCENR mobile email devices use encryption to secure the emails in transit.
-Emails on all mobile devices that are lost or stolen can be wiped remotely.
