Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My Department depends on its information and communications technology, ICT, systems to perform virtually all of its functions. It is vital, therefore, that those systems are securely managed. To that end my Department has developed security policies and procedures and put in place safeguards to mitigate the threats and risks as far as possible. Policies and procedures cover a wide range of issues, including access to the Internet, e-mail usage, mobile device and remote access arrangements and password and other user authentication requirements.

IT security is taken very seriously in the Department not only in the IT unit, but across the organisation. A new security awareness training programme has recently been piloted and it is planned to roll out this training to all staff in the Department in the coming months.

My Department uses industry leading security products to filter e-mail and web traffic to automatically stop spam, viruses and other malicious agents from infecting the network.

My Department maintains ongoing contact with the computer security incident response team, CSIRT-IE, in the national cyber security centre, which provides regular guidance and advice relating to current Internet security alerts and threats. Prevention and mitigation measures recommended by the CSIRT-IE are reviewed as soon as they are received and, where appropriate in our IT environment, implemented.

The Deputy will appreciate that many IT security measures are quite technical in nature and officials in my Department with the necessary skills, knowledge and expertise provide ongoing appropriate support to me and the staff in the Department in this regard.

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