23-04-2025
Defence Forces faces rising cyber risks, according to new strategy
Hostile states and cyber gangs pose 'significant risks' to the Defence Forces, Ireland, and its international partners, according to a new cyber strategy.
It said hostile countries and groups, deterred by Ireland's geographical location, may resort to cyber operations to 'steal technology, disrupt governance and commerce, challenge democratic processes, and threaten critical infrastructure'.
The Defence Forces' Cyber Defence Strategy 2024-2027 said the Irish military was confronted with a 'wide array of threats' and that cyberattacks were 'escalating in intensity and sophistication'.
It said the deployment of the strategy was constrained by the 'immediate need' to increase staffing levels.
The cyber strategy said it outlines a roadmap to 'incrementally' implement the second of three recommendations (Level of Ambition or LOA2) in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, published in February 2022.
LOA2, the investment option that was adopted by the government, recommends the establishment of a joint cyber Defence command (JCDC), including a new cyber operations unit, by January 2028.
This involves the allocation of 100 additional personnel to run the new JCDC.
The strategy comes as new figures show that the strength of the Defence Forces is now at 7,502 (as of the end of February), compared to its supposed, established strength of 9,739 and the LOA2 target strength of 11,500.
The strategy said EU states and partners, were facing 'pervasive cyberattacks' on their critical infrastructure, defences, and political and economic systems. It said:
The cyber threat to the Defence Forces from state actors, activists and organised criminals is every increasing.
The strategy highlights the importance of domestic relationships with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and An Garda Síochána, said it would develop collaboration with the NCSC on 'emergency and crisis scenarios'.
To assist, the strategy said the Defence Forces will 'expand involvement' in EU military computer emergency response team exercises and continue participation in European cyber commanders conferences and Nato cyber commanders' forums.
It said the new Defence Forces cyber command will lead on a Nato-Ireland project on effective military defence against cyber attacks while the department of environment was leading on countering cyber threats.
It said the JCDC will explore ways of enhancing civil-military cooperation with the department of defence, the NCSC, the EU and Nato on conducting risk assessments, early warning systems, and cyber defence.
The strategy said a 'fully developed capability' would allow the Defence Forces to predict and defend against 'sophisticated cyber espionage, sabotage or offensive cyber actions' from a hostile state.
But it added: 'The Defence Forces currently faces challenges due to limited resources and roles in the [cyber threat intelligence] area. Consequently, the Defence Forces faces a significant risk of being unprepared for cyberattacks.'
The report said the 'most pressing need' in the initial stages was 'securing and deploying essential resources' for the cyber command.
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