Prioritizing Cybersecurity Investments Remains Vital - EY Tech Leaders' Perspective
Tech bosses in Ireland are keeping cybersecurity at the forefront of their budgets, despite mounting pressures from economic uncertainty and global instability. A recent survey by EY Ireland found that nearly half of tech leaders (48%) see cybersecurity as the most critical area for improvement due to the escalating threat landscape [1][4][5].
Key Priorities:- Cybersecurity: With AI-driven attacks on the rise and geopolitical tensions growing, cybersecurity stands as the top focus for Irish tech leaders.- AI Adoption: AI is becoming increasingly vital to businesses, with one in ten leaders now considering AI as crucial, a significant jump from just one in fifty in the previous year. However, there's a growing unease about AI, particularly GenAI, potentially heightening cybersecurity risks in the next year, with 85% of Irish business leaders sharing these concerns [1][3].- Cloud Infrastructure: There's a significant shift towards cloud infrastructure, with 41% of organizations now running all core systems in the cloud. This move is motivated by the need for enhanced security, scalability, and cost efficiency [1].- Sustainability and Management Services: Sustainability management tools are also attracting attention, while management services are being invested in to tackle emerging threats and maintain a competitive edge [3].
Despite budget pressures, these tech leaders are being budget-conscious when it comes to skill and application investments, showing a preference for clouds and AI-based infrastructure over traditional on-premise infrastructure [2].
The rapid AI adoption is causing tech leaders to reconsider their cybersecurity strategies, leading to increased investment in AI-driven threat detection and management services [3]. The research indicates a strong optimism among Irish technology leaders who are making smart strategic moves to keep their organizations competitive in a rapidly changing world [2].
Those who aren't actively pursuing AI integration or staying abreast of developments risk falling behind and losing their competitive edge [2]. The sectors that are particularly focusing on AI are those where companies connect with customers, with AI being increasingly employed on the front end [2]. Cloud infrastructure is also gaining traction among Irish tech leaders, with nearly triple the number of organizations hosting all core systems in the cloud compared to just two years ago [1]. This surge reflects the growing trust in cloud technology's ability to deliver enhanced security, scalability, and cost efficiency.
Technology is a driving force behind the priorities of Irish tech leaders, as they focus on adopting AI for enhanced security and scalability. Despite escalating cybersecurity threats, these leaders are investing in AI-driven threat detection to ensure robust defense in the evolving digital landscape.
