---

Cyber-security is tech investment priority

Technology leaders in Irish organisations are prioritising investment in cyber-security, according to a survey carried out by professional-services firm EY. 

The survey also found that budget pressures are affecting recruitment plans for IT departments. 

The findings came from the EY Ireland Tech Leaders Outlook 2025, which surveyed 150 people working in senior technology roles across a range of sectors based in Ireland. 

Sophisticated threats 

Nearly half (48%) of respondents identified cyber-security as the area most in need of improvement. 

According to EY, this reflects growing concern about increasingly sophisticated cyber-threats – including those linked to global instability and AI-driven attacks.  

One in ten of those surveyed now say that AI is fundamental to their business – jumping from just 2% in 2024.  

The percentage of organisations without an AI strategy has fallen from 62% last year to 56%. 

The survey finds that just 34% of tech leaders expect an increase in IT budgets over the next two years – down from 46% in the previous year. 

EY says that, after years of strong demand for IT professionals, a hiring squeeze may be on the horizon, with over three-quarters (76%) of tech leaders either planning to maintain current staffing levels or cut their workforce over the next two years. 

‘Striking’ AI shift 

Ronan Walsh (head of technology, EY) described the shift in AI adoption as “especially striking”.  

“We’re seeing a growing number of organisations move beyond experimentation and begin to embed AI into core business functions to great effect,” he added. 

Customer service was identified by 38% of respondents as the most valuable application of AI, followed by reporting and query support (28%), and sales-data analysis (28%). 

According to EY, this marks a shift from last year, when creative uses such as content generation and design support ranked higher.