Cybersecurity starts with connectivity: the risk Irish leaders overlook
Ireland’s businesses are thriving globally, but fragile cyber networks threaten that success. Lorraine Gribbons argues that true cybersecurity and governance begin with resilient connectivity
Ireland’s businesses are thriving on the global stage. In Q1 2025, exports reached €113.1 billion, almost €38 billion higher than a year earlier. By May, more than 45 percent of goods were bound for the US. Irish SMEs no longer think local – they think global.
As a Chartered Accountant, I see the story behind these numbers: revenues are growing, opportunities are expanding, but margins are under pressure. Tariffs, rising costs, and tighter access to finance all make leadership decisions more difficult.
In this environment, there is little room for unforced errors.
Yet in boardrooms across the country, one risk remains consistently overlooked: leaders plan for trade, investment, and expansion, but many still rely on fragile broadband infrastructure never designed for today’s pressures. In 2025, that is not just a technical weakness, it is a governance issue.
When networks fail, everything fails
Recent storms have left Irish businesses offline for days, exposing just how brittle many networks remain.
Larger organisations saw teams locked out of cloud and CRM systems, stalling operations. Smaller firms lost online orders, missed bookings, or faced failed card payments, all in the space of a dropped connection.
Downtime carries a heavy cost. Independent studies estimate the impact for Irish SMEs at €10,000 to €25,000 per hour. The reputational damage is harder to quantify, but often more lasting.
And here is the uncomfortable truth: when networks fail, everything else fails with them. Cybersecurity defences stop, compliance systems falter, and customer trust evaporates.
Tariffs and tight margins raise the stakes
This year’s US tariff announcements show how fragile growth can be. EU agreements shield some sectors, but no exporter is immune from uncertainty. Tariffs, supply chain shocks, and rising input costs are squeezing Irish businesses from all sides.
When external pressures mount, preventable losses like downtime become even more damaging. A resilient network is no longer simply an IT safeguard. It is a financial necessity.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month: looking in the wrong place
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. It rightly focuses attention on digital threats – firewalls, phishing and staff training. But none of this matter if the network itself is not resilient.
A simple truth stands: when the network fails, every other defence fails with it. Firewalls cannot protect you, monitoring cannot run, and compliance frameworks cannot function without a secure and stable connection at the core.
Under the NIS2 Directive, directors are personally accountable for resilience. Connectivity is now a boardroom responsibility.
As Q4 begins, I encourage Irish boards to put connectivity on their agenda by asking:
- How long could our business survive without connectivity?
- Do we have secure backup if our primary connection fails?
- Are our cloud and CRM systems protected if the network fails?
- Are we treating broadband as a utility bill or as strategic infrastructure?
The Boardroom Agenda for 2026
As both a Chartered Accountant and a Managing Director, I believe the conversation on connectivity is no longer just about technology; it is about governance, resilience, and accountability.
Cybersecurity does not begin with software. It begins with the strength of your network and Irish leaders cannot afford to overlook it.
Lorraine Gribbons is Managing Director of Fastcom