Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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79. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there is a policy of data back-up in the operations of his Department and all agencies under his remit. [28117/21]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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My Department implements a security-by-design and defence-in-depth approach to IT security. The Government’s services are still actively involved in managing and remediating the recent cyberattack on the HSE. Our technical staff continue to operate and monitor all relevant systems to the highest levels, and are closely engaged with experts in the OGCIO and the NCSC to ensure that we follow best practice as it relates to all aspects of IT security. For operational and security reasons, we are advised by the NCSC not to disclose details of systems and processes which could in any way compromise those efforts. In particular, it is not considered appropriate to disclose information which might assist criminals to identify potential vulnerabilities in IT security arrangements. Therefore it is not considered appropriate to disclose particular arrangements in place in relation to IT security tools and services, including those in relation to backups in the Department or agencies under our remit and my Department does not comment on operational security matters.