Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 October 2018
307. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of cyber attacks recorded here in 2017 and to date in 2018; the number of these attacks that were successfully prevented; the number of these attacks believed or known to have been committed by cyber criminals; and the number of these attacks committed by State actors. [44266/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy remit includes responsibility for both the policy and operational components of Cyber Security, and as such, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is located in my Department. The NCSC is responsible for acting as a conduit for information to constituents including operators of Critical National Infrastructure, businesses, Government Departments and Agencies, and also for providing expert advice and analysis on cyber security issues and for coordinating significant incidents. The NCSC acts as a central contact point in the event of a government or nation-wide cyber security incident affecting the State and continues to work with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and the Departments and Agencies that own these systems to mitigate and manage these risks. The expertise contained within the NCSC covers a broad range of capabilities including computer science, software engineering, malware analysis and information technology forensics. The unit also participates in international exercises.
The NCSC has been assigned a number of new roles under the recently signed Security of Network and Information Systems Regulations, which taken together, will mean that the State will have coordinated systems for the management of cyber related risk to Critical National Infrastructure, and for the assessment and response to incidents.
Details of the operational work of the NCSC are generally not publicly released for security reasons.
