Cyber Ireland releases cyber security growth roadmap

Sector is expected to account for more than 18,000 jobs by 2030

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Cyber Ireland has launched a comprehensive strategy aimed at driving the growth of Ireland’s cyber security sector by 2030. The organisation represents more than 160 organisations, including start-ups, SMEs, multinational corporations, and educational institutions.

According to the State of the Cyber Security Sector 2022 report the cyber security sector in Ireland employs more than 7,300 professionals working across nearly 500 companies, contributing €1.1 billion annually to the economy. 

There has been a demand for cyber security skills within the past four years with a trebling of job roles advertised between 2019 and 2022, from 2,000 to 6,700 with a further 10,000 additional jobs expected by 2030, contributing €2.5 billion per annum to the economy. 

Pat Larkin, chairperson, Cyber Ireland, said: “There is an incredible opportunity in front of us. Analysts quantify the current Cyber Security market opportunity in or around $200-250 billion with a 15% growth rate. A recent consultancy report estimates that the current vended market spend may be 10 times under penetrated and thus the addressable market may be between $1.5 and $2 trillion.

“No matter how you look at it, we cannot capture or service even a small percentage of that addressable market currently as individual entities. By working together as an industry sector we have a massive opportunity to capture a greater share of this market from Ireland, through Cyber Ireland.”

Cyber Ireland seeks to leverage Ireland’s cyber security strengths to become a leading sector in Europe and globally. Through its 2024-2027 cluster strategy, it focuses on building the community, driving business growth, developing the workforce, and advocacy and promotion.

Eoin Byrne, cluster manager, Cyber Ireland, said: “We have established the cyber security cluster as the representative body and coordinator of industry in Ireland, and are now recognised in Europe with our Cluster Management Excellence Award. We have quantified for the first time the size, scale and contribution that the cyber security sector makes to Ireland inc. and its potential for growth.”

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