Irish employees are increasingly concerned that the nation is on the brink of a significant cybersecurity crisis, with a survey from Landmark Technologies indicating that more than half of workers believe a major incident is likely this year. The research, conducted by Censuswide in January and released on Friday, paints a stark picture of a workforce feeling exposed to evolving cyber threats.
The findings reveal that many respondents think Ireland is not as well-prepared as other European nations to defend against cyberattacks. A troubling 80% of participants reported personal experiences with cyber incidents in the workplace, while half anticipate their organization will suffer a data breach within the next year.
In a landscape increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence, concerns about AI-driven threats are particularly acute. Nearly nine in ten employees expressed worries regarding AI-powered phishing attempts, which are becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect. A similar proportion believes cybercriminals will leverage AI technology to steal company data, and many respondents also cited anxiety about ransomware attacks and deepfake scams targeting organizations.
According to Ken Kelleher, managing director of Landmark Technologies, the survey results should spur immediate action among businesses and the government. “Irish workers are clearly fearful that a major cyber incident is not a question of if, but when,” he stated. “The fact that more than half expect a catastrophic event this year should be a wake-up call for all businesses and relevant stakeholders.”
Kelleher emphasized the importance of improving internal communication and bolstering defenses as technologies like AI become more embedded in both legitimate operations and criminal activity. Human behavior continues to present significant vulnerabilities; 61% of respondents believe employees pose the greatest security risk. Some admitted to clicking on malicious links without reporting the errors, and a notable portion reported that a senior leader had fallen victim to a cyber scam in the past year.
As the threats escalate, Kelleher urged organizations to enhance their preparedness. “It is crucial that businesses strengthen their defenses, improve employee awareness, and receive the highest levels of support to deal with increasingly sophisticated cyber threats,” he said.
This survey, which gathered the views of 1,000 employees across the Republic of Ireland, reflects growing anxiety over the country’s ability to cope with rapid technological changes and increased global cyber activity. With the escalating prevalence of cyber incidents in workplaces, the call for a more robust cybersecurity framework is resonating louder among employees.
The results serve as a crucial reminder that as technology evolves, so too do the threats associated with it. For organizations and employees alike, the imperative to enhance cybersecurity measures has never been more urgent. As the landscape continues to shift, the need for effective strategies to combat cyber threats will remain at the forefront of national discourse.
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