Government to establish National Cyber Security Centre

Communications Minister Denis Naughten is expected to propose the formal establishment of a National Cyber Security Centre next month, The Irish Times reports.

Mr Naughten will bring a memorandum to Government early in September with a proposal to create an independent office comparable to the Data Protection Commissioner’s office.

The Department of Communications and the Office of Public Works are in talks with University College Dublin about basing the centre on the university campus.

The Government is one of many in the EU that is recognising the growing threat posed by cyber-crime, which has already prompted major investment in police resources in Northern Ireland.

The Law Society of Ireland has previously issued security advice and warnings about the risk of cyber-attacks to its members.

A major report published last year found that one in three of Ireland’s top 20 law firms were the subject of cyber attacks in 2014/15.