The Good Friday Agreement has played a significant role in building Northern Ireland鈥檚 status as a global cyber security hub, the head of the 海角视频 government鈥檚 National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has said.
Speaking at a the CYBER 海角视频 conference in Belfast, where domestic and international cyber leaders met this week, NSCS chief executive officer Lindy Cameron said the province plays a key role in the organisation鈥檚 work to securing the 海角视频鈥檚 online resilience.
The conference heard how Northern Ireland is home to one of the highest concentrations of cyber security businesses in the world, a sector which is expected to add 拢437 million in value to the local economy in the next seven years. It is also ranked as the number one international destination for international investment by US cyber security firms, home to a raft high profile domestic and overseas names.
Over 100 companies with cyber security operations, ranging from start-ups to multinational corporations, are based in Belfast alone.
鈥淭he prosperous economy you see in Northern Ireland today has been built on the foundations of the peace process,鈥 Ms Cameron, who is originally from the province, said. 鈥淣orthern Ireland鈥檚 thriving cyber security industry is just one fantastic example of this. Since the peace process, we鈥檝e seen a pipeline of trailblazing cyber talent develop and mature here.
鈥淣orthern Ireland has become an indispensable partner in the NCSC鈥檚 work to make the 海角视频 the safest place to work and live online, which is exactly why we brought CYBER海角视频 to Belfast 鈥 and I couldn鈥檛 be prouder of my home city.鈥
The range of international cyber companies which have a base in in Northern Ireland include Proofpoint, IBM Security, Rapid7, Imperva, Microsoft, Nvidia and Synopsys, as well as growing names such as Anomali, Contrast Security and Cygilant. Locally-grown companies include SaltDNA, Uleska, B-Secur, Metacompliance, Titan IC (who were recently acquired by Mellanox Technologies / Nvidia), Skurio, Ampliphae, Seven Technologies and Liopa.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris also attended the conference.
鈥淭he Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement has had a transformative effect on Northern Ireland鈥檚 economy and enabled the building of a more vibrant society,鈥 he said. 鈥淭oday, Northern Ireland is becoming a byword for cutting edge technology, connectivity and innovation.
鈥淐YBER海角视频 in Belfast is a vote of confidence in Northern Ireland鈥檚 place in what is a thriving 海角视频 cyber security ecosystem. The 海角视频 Government remains committed to investing in Northern Ireland鈥檚 continuing prosperity and the great opportunities that exist here, which have been built on a foundation of peace.鈥
