Cyber Security, Data Breaches & Digital Sovereignty
What Every Public Sector Leader Needs to Know in 2026
PAI Executive Briefing
Date: 25th September
Format: Live, Online and Interactive
Three expert perspectives. One rapidly changing landscape. One essential executive update for Ireland’s public sector.
Cyber security has become one of the defining leadership and governance challenges facing the Irish public sector.
From increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks and AI-enabled threats to new European legislation and growing concerns around digital sovereignty, senior leaders are being asked to make decisions that extend far beyond traditional IT and information security.
Recent events—including the Irish Times investigation into software used within Irish State agencies—have reinforced the importance of understanding not only how organisations respond to cyber incidents, but also how they assess the technologies, suppliers and digital infrastructure they rely upon.
As cyber risk, information governance and public trust become increasingly interconnected, organisations must ensure they are prepared to respond to today’s threats while making informed decisions that strengthen resilience for the future.
This timely PAI Executive Briefing brings together three recognised experts, each offering a distinct but complementary perspective on the challenges facing today’s public sector organisations.
Together, they will explore the evolving cyber landscape, examine the strategic implications of digital sovereignty and information governance, and provide practical insight into how public bodies can strengthen resilience, build trust and prepare for what comes next.
Providing the national operational perspective, the NCSC will share current cyber threat intelligence, emerging attack trends and practical guidance to help public bodies strengthen preparedness and resilience. Delegates will gain valuable insight into the challenges facing Irish organisations today—and the priorities shaping Ireland’s national cyber security response.
What You Will Take Away
Following this Executive Briefing, delegates will be better equipped to:
- Understand how the cyber threat landscape is evolving and why public sector organisations continue to be attractive targets.
- Recognise how AI, geopolitical developments and supply chain vulnerabilities are reshaping organisational risk.
- Understand the growing importance of digital sovereignty and its implications for technology procurement and supplier assurance.
- Explore how GDPR, NIS2 and strong information governance contribute to organisational resilience.
- Identify the questions senior leaders should be asking before, during and after a cyber incident.
- Gain practical insight into current cyber threats, emerging trends and national priorities from recognised experts.
- Return to their organisation with practical actions to strengthen cyber resilience, governance and preparedness.
Who Should Attend?
This Executive Briefing is designed for professionals with strategic, governance or operational responsibility for organisational resilience, including:
- Secretaries General, Chief Executives and Senior Public Service Leaders
- Directors and Heads of Service
- Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and ICT Managers
- Digital Transformation Leaders
- Data Protection Officers
- Information Governance and Records Management Professionals
- Risk, Compliance and Internal Audit Professionals
- Procurement and Commercial Managers
- Cyber Security and Information Security Leads
- Business Continuity and Emergency Planning Professionals
- Anyone with responsibility for governance, resilience, digital strategy or organisational risk