The Irish government has recently unveiled a National Strategy on the Resilience of Critical Entities, a comprehensive framework aimed at safeguarding essential public services and critical national infrastructure from cyber threats and other disruptions. This strategy, developed by Ireland’s Department of Defence and Office of Emergency Planning, aligns with the EU’s Critical Entities Resilience Directive, which mandates Member States to take measures to protect essential services by October 2026.
Helen McEntee, Ireland’s minister for defence, emphasized the importance of a resilient society for national security, economic stability, and social well-being. The strategy focuses on enhancing risk assessment methodologies, establishing governance frameworks, improving critical entity resilience, overseeing infrastructure dependencies, and maintaining alignment with cybersecurity objectives.
The framework comes in response to a cyber attack on Ireland’s Health Service Executive in May 2021, which caused significant disruptions and highlighted the need for enhanced resilience measures. David Ferbrache, managing director at Beyond Blue, praised Ireland’s clear plan for compliance with the CER Directive, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to resilience that addresses various threats beyond just cyber risks.
While the EU’s CER Directive does not apply to the UK, Ferbrache suggested that a similar approach could benefit the UK in addressing diverse threats to critical infrastructure. He highlighted the need for a more comprehensive legislative framework that combines cybersecurity and operational resilience to effectively protect essential services.
Overall, Ireland’s National Strategy on the Resilience of Critical Entities represents a proactive step towards enhancing national security and ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of essential services in the face of evolving threats.
