Tech leaders in Ireland are prioritizing cybersecurity investments despite facing budget constraints and economic uncertainty. A recent EY Ireland Tech Leaders Outlook 2025 survey found that 48% of senior technology leaders identified cybersecurity as the area most in need of improvement. Ronan Walsh, head of technology consulting at EY Ireland, said on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that companies are experiencing significant cost pressures in other areas, leading to a budget squeeze.
From an IT perspective, leaders are being very prudent in terms of what skills and applications they invest in,” Mr. Walsh said. The survey also revealed that AI adoption is accelerating, with one in ten leaders now saying AI is fundamental to their business, up from just 2% in 2024.
The number of organizations without an AI strategy has fallen to 56%, down from 62% last year. Financial constraints are reshaping priorities, with only 34% of tech leaders expecting an increase in IT budgets over the next two years, down from 46% in 2024.
Cybersecurity investments amid budget constraints
This shift suggests a potential hiring squeeze, as 76% of respondents plan to maintain current staffing levels or potentially reduce their workforce. Walsh noted a shift from traditional on-premise infrastructure costs towards more cloud-based solutions, emphasizing a pointed focus on AI and cloud infrastructure. “The shift in AI adoption is especially striking.
Organizations are moving beyond experimentation and beginning to embed AI into core business functions to great effect,” he added. The research shows that cloud infrastructure is gaining momentum among Irish technology leaders, with 41% of organizations now hosting all core systems in the cloud, nearly triple the figure from 2023. This surge reflects growing trust in cloud technology’s ability to deliver enhanced security, scalability, and cost-efficiency.
As budget pressures mount, tech leaders are increasingly viewing cloud as a strategic enabler essential to long-term digital transformation. Walsh emphasized that companies not actively seeking AI entry points or keeping up with developments will be left behind over time.
Kirstie a technology news reporter at DevX. She reports on emerging technologies and startups waiting to skyrocket.
