NI Civil Service faces 100 million suspect emails and 600,000 potential cyber attacks per month

The NI Civil Service has said that it blocks roughly 100 million emails and over 600,000 potentially-malicious items from its internet systems each month.
By Adam Kula
Published 21st Sep 2021, 11:38 BST
Data Security Breach by V isual ContentData Security Breach by V isual Content
Data Security Breach by V isual Content

The number has come to light thanks to Pam Cameron, a south Antrim DUP MLA, who had posed the question to the Department of Finance, which essentially runs the NI Civil Service.

She had asked: “How many cyber attacks have been made against the Northern Ireland Civil Service in each of the last five years?”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The response came: “It is not possible to say how many cyber attacks there have been...

“However, the number of hostile events blocked by the NICS Network firewalls are a good indication of the scale of the matter.

“Over the last 30 days, which is representative of recurring monthly figures, 604,080 items have been blocked from entering the NICS Network, each one representing a possible cyber attack.

“The NICS blocks between 80-100 million emails per month from entering the NICS email domain. A large portion of these emails are likely to contain malicious cyber threats.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mrs Cameron said: “Overall it is vital that the Civil Service keeps a high alert against all forms of cyber-attacks. Given the importance of the network and the information that will be held on it, there is an obvious need to ensure the highest level of security.”

More from this reporter:

Click here: Investigation of dissident republican-linked charity still unfinished three years on

Click here: Boy (16) suspected of at least 20 offences after car drove through loyalist band parade is freed on bail

Click here: Top Orangeman: Michael D Higgins is an irrelevant foreign head-of-state

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Click here: Anti-litter firm WISE defends its operations amid claims its £80 fines are overwhelmingly for cigarette butts

Click here: PSNI aeroplane forced to rely on an iPad to navigate after catastrophic double engine ‘flameout’ saw it plunge a mile out of the sky in 90 seconds

Click here: NI Protocol described as a ‘car crash and a nightmare’ as one haulier says his firm may fold within months

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptionsnow to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Ben Lowry

Acting Editor