The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) received 5,276 reports last year, 721 of which were confirmed as cybersecurity incidents.
This led to the opening of 309 investigations.
The figures are contained in the National Cyber Security Annual Update 2023 which was published today.
According to the report, the vast majority of incidents were categorised as being at the lower end of the severity scale.
There were no incidents reported that were deemed severe enough to be in the top two categories.
“This shows the successful preventative work being done by the NCSC to ensure threats are being stopped before they can severely impact the State’s infrastructure,” the report states.
The annual update is being released to mark the mid-term point of the National Cyber Security Strategy and details the work done by Government departments and agencies in the fight against cyberattacks.
The report contains inputs from the Department of Communications, the NCSC, An Garda SÃochána, the Defence Forces, and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
“This update comes as a direct response to the public’s calls for more frequent reporting, for greater insight, and transparency into the Government’s efforts in the cybersecurity arena,” said Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications Ossian Smyth.
“What this annual update shows is that the Irish government is committed to protecting the State’s critical infrastructure, developing skills and capacity in civil society, and safeguarding Ireland’s continued digital transition,” Mr Smyth said.
The Government has also announced the launch of a €2 million fund to provide grants to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as they enhance their cybersecurity.
The new initiative is co-funded by the European Union’s Digital Europe Programme and will offer companies financial support to strengthen their IT systems.
Eligible SMEs can apply for funding of 80% of project costs, with a maximum grant of €60,000, to implement key cybersecurity measures, re-test their systems, and receive expert guidance for future improvements.