Cyber Security Exports Surge as Industry Grows; Urgent Hiring Needed

UPDATE: New reports confirm that nearly half of cyber security companies in Ireland have experienced significant growth in exports over the past 12 months. The study from Cyber Ireland reveals that 48% of firms reported increased exports, while 63% noted a rise in domestic sales, highlighting a booming sector crucial to the country’s economy.

This rapid growth is projected to continue into 2026, with 68% of companies anticipating further domestic sales increases and 66% expecting higher export figures. The findings were unveiled today at the Cyber Ireland National Conference (CINC25) in Kilkenny, where over 400 industry leaders and experts are convening on October 8-9, 2025.

The cyber security sector, which employs nearly 8,000 people and generates annual revenues of €2.7 billion, plays a vital role in bolstering Ireland’s digital economy. Despite this success, the industry faces pressing challenges, including rising operational costs. The survey found that 89% of companies reported an increase in the cost of doing business, with 82% expecting this trend to continue over the next year.

Amidst this growth, 80% of cyber security firms are actively hiring or plan to do so in the next twelve months, reflecting a strong demand for talent in a sector grappling with a skills shortage. The most challenging roles to fill include security architects and governance risk and compliance (GRC) specialists, coupled with cloud security positions.

In terms of technological integration, just over a quarter of companies—28%—have fully implemented artificial intelligence in their operations, while another 33% report partial AI integration in specific areas.

Eoin Byrne, cluster manager at Cyber Ireland, emphasized the sector’s importance, stating:

“The cyber security industry is critical to providing national cyber resilience, underpinning the growth of our digital economy. We must invest in developing our cyber security sector, through scaling Irish cyber security companies and ensuring we remain a competitive and attractive location for multi-national cyber security operations.”

Byrne also stressed the need to establish a National Cybersecurity Research and Innovation Centre to bolster Ireland’s position as a cyber leader in Europe.

Brian Honan, chairperson of Cyber Ireland and CEO of BH Consulting, highlighted the international nature of cyber threats:

“The cyber security threats we face impact all organisations and don’t stop at borders. That’s why Cyber Ireland is built on public-private partnerships bringing together industry, education, research, and government.”

The conference, supported by Enterprise Ireland, will showcase Ireland’s leading cyber security start-ups and feature the European Cyber Security Event, ECSO Cyber Solution Days. This event will gather security leaders from across Europe to explore innovative solutions related to identity and access management and cloud security.

Founded in 2019, Cyber Ireland is the national cyber security cluster organization that unites over 220 companies and organizations across the sector. This collaboration aims to enhance workforce development and innovation, positioning Ireland as a premier location for cyber security in Europe.

As the cyber security landscape continues to evolve rapidly, industry stakeholders are urged to stay vigilant and proactive in addressing the challenges ahead while capitalizing on the burgeoning opportunities.