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Cyber Ireland Regional Chapters
Published on 08 May 2020
Ireland
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
Cyber Ireland (CI), developed in response to an industry need, is a national organisation with the twin goals of promoting security in Irl and building on our strengths to become a global centre for security.
The southern region of Ireland is in a strong position to become a regional centre for cyber security, reflected in regional policy such as the Southern RSES, but there was a gap in terms of how and who would drive it, which the Regional Chapters are now addressing.
The Regional Chapters provide an opportunity for regional stakeholders from across industry, academia & government (including Local Authorities) to focus on the initiatives that are most pertinent to them, while also participating in the national CI initiatives. Membership is open to all companies & organisations (located or registered in Ireland) (not individuals) considered, to some extent, to provide or consume cyber security products and/or services, or play an important role in the regions cyber security sector.
They will be led by ‘Chapter Leads’ recruited from industry via expressions of interest and tasked with:
- Organising regular events for cyber security community on topics driven by members
- ID specific regional strengths to build on
- Explore specific challenges
- Work with CI Cluster Mgr & Board to disseminate national CI activities
- Focus on specific regional initiatives and how CI can support at a national level
- Co-ordinate and gain buy-in from key regional stakeholders
The southern region of Ireland is in a strong position to become a regional centre for cyber security, reflected in regional policy such as the Southern RSES, but there was a gap in terms of how and who would drive it, which the Regional Chapters are now addressing.
The Regional Chapters provide an opportunity for regional stakeholders from across industry, academia & government (including Local Authorities) to focus on the initiatives that are most pertinent to them, while also participating in the national CI initiatives. Membership is open to all companies & organisations (located or registered in Ireland) (not individuals) considered, to some extent, to provide or consume cyber security products and/or services, or play an important role in the regions cyber security sector.
They will be led by ‘Chapter Leads’ recruited from industry via expressions of interest and tasked with:
- Organising regular events for cyber security community on topics driven by members
- ID specific regional strengths to build on
- Explore specific challenges
- Work with CI Cluster Mgr & Board to disseminate national CI activities
- Focus on specific regional initiatives and how CI can support at a national level
- Co-ordinate and gain buy-in from key regional stakeholders
Resources needed
Currently no funding is available to run the CI regional chapters. Chapters are set-up by the CI cluster manager & rely on volunteers from industry to both lead the Chapter and sponsor the events (venue, catering etc.). In the long-term funding via public-private partnership will be investigated.
Evidence of success
CI is in the first year of initiation with Regional Chapters being established, the Southern Regional Chapter is one of the first to be launched. Despite its infancy achievements include:
- Raising awareness of the activities of CI both at national & regional level
- Regional forum established (2nd mtg held online 05.05.20)
- Feedback forum established to facilitate development of new initiatives
- Co-ordination of key stakeholders from industry, academia and government within the region
- Raising awareness of the activities of CI both at national & regional level
- Regional forum established (2nd mtg held online 05.05.20)
- Feedback forum established to facilitate development of new initiatives
- Co-ordination of key stakeholders from industry, academia and government within the region
Potential for learning or transfer
Cyber Ireland Regional Chapters demonstrates an effective working example of horizontal coordination through the collective action of members sharing experiences, goals and working together to identify priorities, strengths and weaknesses to facilitate the region and the country to work as a coordinated system. It presents a replicable working example of how to develop a hub of knowledge, expertise, skills and industry. It highlights how a cluster developed in response to national needs can also build in a regional focus as in this case through the formation of ‘regional chapters’. The Regional Chapters success is in part due to the appropriate and quality relationships and networking. There is clear rationale and criteria outlined to ensure the most suitable members, this rationale and criteria can easily be transferred and adopted by partner countries.
It provides an effective process to implement the objectives of both national and regional policy.
It provides an effective process to implement the objectives of both national and regional policy.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Cork Institute of Technology
Ireland
Contact
Administrative Officer