What makes Ireland a hotbed for cybersecurity talent

Cybersecurity might be a technology-intensive sector but the raw material it needs most is talent. In the face of rising cyberattacks against businesses and public sector organisations, companies are looking to the industry to protect them, and some are going further and staffing up in-house cybersecurity teams to help them manage their risks.

Growing demand for cybersecurity services is creating an increased need for skills, and this is where Ireland plays a leading role. In Ireland, companies can tap into talent that’s ready made for what the industry needs. Today, six of the top 10 global cybersecurity companies have a base of operations in Ireland, and the sector employs 7,000 people across the country.

A track record in attracting major names
Some of the cybersecurity companies with operations in Ireland are familiar names like Check Point, CrowdStrike, Eset, Fortinet, Mandiant, McAfee, Proofpoint, Symantec (now part of Broadcom), Trellix and Trend Micro; others are mainstream technology businesses with cybersecurity functions in Ireland, including AWS, Microsoft, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

In September 2024, Proofpoint chose Cork as its new international hub, creating more than 250 jobs by 2026 with plans for active recruitment and ongoing investment there. “We are excited to be able to tap into Ireland’s strong technology ecosystem, with its broad cybersecurity talent base,” said Kim Sullivan, the company’s chief people officer.