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Cyber risk spending not being prioritised by most Irish businesses, says survey

Irishexaminer • October 19, 2026

Only one in three security leaders at Irish businesses said a cyber spend priority is securing against AI-enabled attacks, according to a global report on the evolving cyber landscape.

The PwC 2027 Digital Turst Insights survey suggests many organisations are under-prepared for future threats. The research found that just 17% of Irish respondents strongly agree that cyber risk is integrated into their organisation's enterprise risk management processes, while less than a quarter (23%) strongly agree that their organisation regularly conducts realistic incident response exercises to test preparedness.

The survey, which captures the views of almost 4,000 business and tech executives across 71 countries and territories, including Ireland. Globally, more than four-fifths (84%) of global security and finance leaders expecting cyber budgets to increase in 2027 – up from 78% last year.

Leonard McAuliffe, Partner, Cybersecurity & Privacy, PwC Ireland, said: “Despite the interconnected risks, only 17% of Irish respondents report that cyber risk is integrated into their organisation’s enterprise risk management process, compared with 41% globally. Closing this gap can support clearer ownership and better-informed investment decisions as organisations respond to fast-moving threats.

“The ultimate goal of cybersecurity is not just to protect the business, but to give the business the confidence to move forward. As organisations race to capture the value of AI, cyber resilience needs to become a business capability, embedded in C-suite decision-making from the outset."

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Irish Businesses Lag in Cybersecurity Spending Amid Rising AI Threats A recent PwC survey indicates that only one in three security leaders in Irish businesses prioritize spending on defenses against AI-enabled attacks. The survey reveals that just 17% of Irish respondents integrate cyber risk into their enterprise risk management processes, significantly lower than the global average of 41%. Furthermore, less than a quarter of organizations conduct realistic incident response exercises to assess their preparedness for cyber threats. The report highlights a growing disconnect between the recognition of cyber threats and the actions taken to mitigate them. As organizations increasingly adopt AI technologies, the need for robust cybersecurity measures becomes more. The survey suggests that 84% of global security leaders expect cyber budgets to rise in 2027, indicating a shift in focus towards enhancing cyber resilience. However, Irish businesses appear to be lagging behind in this area, raising concerns about their ability to respond to evolving cyber threats. 2 sources 22

Cyber risk spending not being prioritised by most Irish businesses, says survey

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