Irish Tech News Audio Articles Irish Tech News

NETSCOUT SYSTEMS, INC. has released findings from its 2H2023 DDoS Threat Intelligence Report that dissects trends and attack methodologies adversaries use against service providers, enterprises, and end-users.
The information cited in the report is gathered from NETSCOUT's unparalleled internet visibility at a global scale, collecting, analysing, prioritising, and disseminating data on DDoS attacks from 214 countries and territories, 456 vertical industries, and more than 13,000 Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs).
Driven by tech-savvy and politically motivated hacktivist groups and an increase in DNS water torture attacks, NETSCOUT observed more than 7 million DDoS attacks in the second half of 2023, representing a 15% increase from the first half of the year.
Hacktivism Increases Ten-Fold
Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) hacktivism transcended geographic borders during the past year, exemplifying a shift in the global security landscape. Groups like NoName057(016) and Anonymous Sudan, as well as lone hackers and small collectives, are increasingly using DDoS to target those ideologically opposed to them, for example:
Peru experienced a 30% increase in attacks tied to protests of former Peruvian President Fujimori's release from prison on 6th December
Poland experienced a surge in attacks at the end of 2023 associated with a regime change and statements reaffirming Poland's support of Ukraine in the Russia-Ukraine conflict
Anonymous Sudan attacked X (formerly Twitter) to influence Elon Musk regarding Starlink service in Sudan, and it attacked Telegram for suspending its main channel
NoName057(016), Anonymous Sudan, and Killnet have taken credit for DDoS attacks in Ukraine, Russia, Israel, and Palestine targeting communications infrastructure, hospitals, and banks. Daily attacks from hacktivists increased more than ten-fold between the first and second halves of 2023. NoName057(016) topped the list of DDoS adversaries in 2023, targeting 780 websites across 35 countries.
Water Torture Attacks Rise
Targeting critical systems at the heart of the Internet's control plane, DNS (Domain Name System) water torture attacks have been on the rise since the end of 2019. DNS query floods designed to overwhelm authoritative DNS servers experienced a massive 553% increase from 1H2020 to 2H2023. Rather than targeting one website or server, adversaries go after entire systems, resulting in even more damage.
Gaming and Gambling Targeted
NETSCOUT findings point to gaming - and the gambling associated with gaming - as a primary target for DDoS attacks. Threat actors are drawn to the sector's substantial financial value and the goal of disrupting competitors, especially during online esports tournaments. Historically, 80-90% of all DDoS attacks are related to gaming and gambling.
NETSCOUT assessed attacks on enterprises in these sectors, determining that more than 100,000 DDoS attacks were deployed against those in gaming, and over 20,500 were made against those tied to gambling in 2023.
In addition, based on NETSCOUT's observations of the DDoS threat landscape, approximately 1% of DDoS attacks are suppressed from originating networks.
"Global adversaries have become more sophisticated in the past year attacking websites and overloading servers to lockout customers and inflict digital chaos to influence geopolitical issues," stated Richard Hummel, senior threat intelligence lead, NETSCOUT. "The relentless barrage of DDoS threats drives up costs and creates security fatigue for network operators.
They cannot safeguard their digital assets without the proper advanced DDoS protection leveraging predictive, real-time threat intelligence."
Multiple decades of experience working with the world's largest service providers and enterprises give NETSCOUT far-reaching visibility into the global internet to discern the pulse of the digital world. Our capacity to monitor and respond to DDoS attacks is powered by our ATLAS platform, which enables us to anal

Today, ESB Networks has announced that it has 1,000 MW (one Giga Watt) of electricity storage connected to Ireland's network. This figure includes 731.5 MW of battery storage projects and 292 MW from Turlough Hill pumped storage power station - which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Energy storage facilities are connected across the grid, to both the Transmission and Distribution systems, managed by EirGrid and ESB Networks.
One Giga Watt of energy storage is enough to power the equivalent of approximately 450,000 homes for one hour, typically during peaks in demand or when frequency support is needed at times of low levels of renewable generation. For context, the peak demand on Ireland's electricity system is approximately 5.5 GW.
Electricity storage systems such as utility-scale battery projects also provide essential backup services to the grid that help to keep the electricity supply secure, reduce carbon emissions and ultimately reduce costs to the consumer.
With a strong pipeline of further energy storage projects, Ireland's electricity system is becoming more flexible and agile, facilitating the greater integration of cheaper renewable wind and solar power necessary to decarbonise the electricity system and meet Ireland's climate targets.
Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, said: "Ireland is on a journey that will see us reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels in the move to cleaner sources of energy. Energy storage, like the large-scale battery projects we are seeing emerge across the country combined with the technology at sites like ESB's Turlough Hill, will be crucial to providing more affordable, sustainable electricity and ensuring security of supply.
1 GW is an incredible milestone but the growth in energy storage projects simply must continue for the benefit of all across society and the wider economy to allow us to effectively balance our new, homegrown supply of clean electricity."
Nicholas Tarrant, Managing Director of ESB Networks, commented on the importance of this on the country's journey to net zero: "This really is a significant milestone for us at ESB Networks and our partners involved in connecting one Giga Watt of energy storage to Ireland's electricity network.
The figure includes sites like ESB's Turlough Hill hydroelectric station, but what we have seen in recent years is a major push by the wider industry to deliver large-scale battery energy storage projects that we have been able to support through network connections.
As this will no doubt continue, we at ESB Networks are proud to be playing our part in helping to deliver the infrastructure required on the journey to a net zero future where clean sources of electricity backed by flexible storage options will be the cornerstone of a cleaner electricity system for Ireland."
Bobby Smith, Head of Energy Storage Ireland, remarked: "Energy storage is a key enabler of our clean energy future, and this achievement is a big step on that journey. Our members are delivering the energy storage projects alongside ESB Networks that are needed to reduce the use of fossil fuels and drive down energy prices while ensuring a secure, stable electricity system. The energy storage industry is ready to help deliver on Ireland's net-zero ambitions."

Generative AI (GenAI) and AI will significantly transform industries in Ireland, according to 70% of respondents to the Dell Technologies Innovation Catalyst Research.
Based on responses from 6,600 IT and business decision-makers across 40 countries, including 100 in Ireland, the research suggests that while there is broad optimism for AI and GenAI, the extent to which organisations are prepared for the rapid pace of change varies greatly.
71% say they are well positioned competitively and have a solid strategy in place to harness the power of AI. Moreover, nine in 10 (92%) think organisations can use GenAI responsibly.
At the same time, over half (56%) of the respondents are uncertain what their industry will look like in the next three to five years, and forty-nine per cent report struggling to keep pace with advancements in GenAI and other technologies. They cite the lack of the right talent (43%), lack of budget (33%) and an outdated technology environment (32%) as challenges they face in driving innovation.
To help overcome some of the challenges, fifty-nine per cent of organisations are training or upskilling employees to use GenAI, while six in 10 (62%) are providing AI-optimised technology to improve the work experience.
GenAI Moving from Ideation to Implementation
Respondents cite GenAI's transformative or significant potential to deliver value in improving IT security posture (48%), enhancing the customer experience (47%) and unlocking productivity gains (42%).
More broadly, responses suggest that organisations are working through GenAI practicalities as they transition from ideation to implementation, with 75% saying they have begun implementing GenAI. As organisations increase adoption, concern centres around understanding where risks reside and who is responsible for them. Sixty-six per cent agree that the organisation, rather than the machine, the user or the public, is responsible for any AI malfunction or undesired behaviour.
Catherine Doyle, Managing Director at Dell Technologies Ireland, said: "In today's rapidly evolving landscape, the power of Generative AI and other emerging technologies cannot be understated. Our research underscores the transformative potential of GenAI to drive innovation in every industry across Ireland. Businesses are now harnessing the power of AI to unlock the value hidden within their data, propelling growth and driving innovation forward.
"However, it's clear that while optimism abounds, many organisations are struggling to keep pace with rapid advancements in technology. It's vital for leaders to not only recognise the potential of GenAI but also to act swiftly in using its potential to turn ideas into tangible innovation. By leveraging the capabilities of Generative AI and investing in the right technology infrastructure, businesses can position themselves for success in this era of unprecedented change."
The Right Technology Infrastructure will help Organisations to Succeed
The research also reveals modern data infrastructure's critical role as technologies like GenAI gather pace and data volumes increase. Investing in a modern, scalable infrastructure was cited as the number one area of improvement for businesses to accelerate innovation. Most IT decision makers (66%) say they prefer an on-prem or hybrid model to address the challenges they foresee with implementing GenAI.
The ability to share data across the business is also a key part of the innovation puzzle, with only 1 in 3 (33%) saying they can turn data into real-time insights today to support innovation efforts. Moreover, 95% face data management challenges. However, responses suggest organisations are acting on this challenge, with 64% saying that data is the differentiator and their GenAI strategy must involve using and protecting that data.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous e

A new report released by The Stepstone Group, parent company of IrishJobs, reveals that Ireland has fallen four places to rank 36 in the most attractive countries for professionals across the globe to work.
Published in partnership with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and The Network, a global alliance of more than 70 leading recruitment websites, the study titled Decoding Global Talent 2024, is based on survey data from more than 150,000 workforce respondents from 188 countries, including 1,746 respondents in Ireland, and is the fourth instalment in a series, the previous editions having been published in 2014, 2018, and 2021.
Dublin is ranked number thirty-six in the most attractive cities for global talent to locate, maintaining the same position since 2020. At the national level, the same ranking (#36) is held by Ireland, although it has fallen four places since the previous survey in 2020. Quality of life is the top reason that professionals choose to relocate in Ireland. Quality of job opportunities and Safety, Stability and Security complete the top three factors underlying a desire to work in the country.
Findings show that it is predominantly professionals in Europe considering relocating to Ireland. European countries make up 7 of the top 10 countries where Ireland is considered a top destination for work. These include Portugal, Hungary, Estonia, Spain, Netherlands, Italy and the UK. Pakistan, the UAE and Ghana are the countries outside Europe where Ireland is viewed as a top destination to work.
The research also reveals that workers who move to Ireland expect support from employers across a wide range of areas including housing and visas/work permits. More than eight out of ten (84%) workers expect to receive help with housing. 83% of respondents look for visa and work permit assistance and 75% seek relocation support.
The results show that the UK remains the top destination for professionals in Ireland looking to work abroad. Australia has risen to second place in the most attractive countries for those in Ireland seeking to work abroad, followed by the US in third position. Only 8% of workers in Ireland describe themselves as actively seeking to work abroad. This compares to an average global figure of 23%.
Sam Dooley, Country Director of The Stepstone Group Ireland, said: "Published today, the Decoding Global Talent 2024 report provides important insights for employers in Ireland seeking to attract and retain talent in a competitive labour market.
At the national level, while Ireland remains a relatively attractive location for talent to relocate and work, its fall in this year's rankings may be a sign that the infrastructure challenges that the economy faces, particularly in housing supply, are having a greater impact on the desire of talent to move to the country.
It is crucial that employers, Government and representative groups work together to address these challenges and make sure that Ireland has the right infrastructure and policies in place to be an attractive location for global talent into the future.
"With many employers relying on international recruitment to meet their talent needs, findings show that organisations need to offer a wide range of supports to help professionals relocate successfully. Consistent and open dialogue with talent throughout the recruitment process can ensure that employers stay attuned to the needs of hires and help to provide the necessary supports such as housing, visa/work permits and financial support."
Global Findings
Despite global challenges such as geopolitical tensions, widespread economic concerns, and emerging virtual mobility trends from the past several years, moving abroad for work remains a dream for many workers around the world, with 23% of professionals actively seeking jobs in other countries, and 63% expressing an overall willingness to do so.
Younger people and people from countries with fast-growing populations are the most mobile. English-speaking g

Huawei Ireland has launched the 2024 edition of its flagship talent programme, 'Seeds for the Future'. Third-level students studying STEM subjects or Leaving Certificate students considering a third-level course in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) are eligible to apply.
Seeds for the Future is Huawei's globally-recognised Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) flagship programme, the longest-running CSR initiative across the world. This program seeks to develop local talent, share knowledge, increase ICT sector awareness & enthusiasm, and foster digital community building.
This year, the programme will take place over five days in Rome (July 1-6), where students will meet and work on their 'Tech4Good' projects as well as availing of leadership courses and ICT courses on AI, 5G, Cloud computing and digital power. At the end of their stay, the teams will pitch their ideas, and the regional champions will join the Tech4Good Global Final in China in 2025. The students from Irish universities selected for this year's programme will each be awarded a 1000-euro bursary.
To apply for the programme, students should send their CV, a transcript of their academic records, and a cover letter of 400-600 words and/or a three-minute personal video reflecting their objectives to participate to seedsireland@huawei.com. Students can also find more information about the programme through the Seeds for the Future official website. The deadline for submissions is June 5, with selected students informed by June 10.
Announcing the 2024 Seeds for the Future Programme, Luke McDonnell, Head of PR, Huawei Ireland, said: "Since its inception in 2015, over 280 students from Irish universities have benefited from this unique learning and culture experience. This year, students from all over Europe will meet up in Rome in an atmosphere of learning and development. We focus on the development of their ideas and allowing the students to think of how their projects can help society in our ever-changing world.
"This year marks Huawei's 20th year in Ireland, and the company is committed to creating value for the communities in which we operate. The programmes that we are involved in - Seeds for the Future and TECH4GOOD - demonstrate our commitment to nurturing and developing today's students to think about the future of our society.
We continue to invest in Ireland's future ICT workforce, and we see this student opportunity as another way to help these students to enhance their capabilities as they continue their studies in STEM subjects".
In 2023, the top 50 Seeds for the Future graduates came from nine universities around the country, with the bulk hailing from TU Dublin, UCD, Trinity College Dublin, UCC and NUIG. Last year's programme received 500 applications from STEM students across Ireland. In total, there were 88 graduates, of which 31 were female students.
In both 2023 and 2024, students with top performance in the projects were given the opportunity to visit China and explore cutting-edge technology development and culture exchange.
For more details, go to Huawei - Seeds for The Future - PROGRAMME.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

GOGLA is excited to announce that 18 African companies have been selected to participate in the 2nd edition of ELEVATE, an Africa-focused investment readiness programme for locally-owned and managed off-grid solar companies, supported by GET.invest, a European programme which mobilises investments in renewable energy, supported by the European Union, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Austria.
African Clean Energy Leaders
ELEVATE helps bridge the gap between African companies and international networks and financiers, and enhance their investor readiness, by offering a specialized suite of technical expertise that will accelerate the companies' ability to reach rural homes and businesses with life-changing solar electricity and appliances.
The importance of local companies to achieve energy access and climate goals across Africa
More than 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are still living without electricity - using instead kerosene, candles, or highly polluting diesel generators to light and power their homes and businesses. Off-grid solar provides the fastest and most affordable way to bring clean energy access to millions of them.
African entrepreneurs in the off-grid solar industry have traditionally struggled to access funds, despite locally-owned companies offering valuable local knowledge when addressing the complex challenge of electricity access. Like women-led organisations, they generate higher impact, are more inclusive and earn better satisfaction rates than their peers, on average.
2nd ELEVATE cohort member GREEN IMPACT TECHNOLOGIES solar pump users
Between 2022 and 2023, GOGLA's Investment Data outcomes indicated an impressive (almost 2x total) increase in the funding being injected into locally-owned businesses in the off-grid solar space. This is a great trajectory being established and we aim to keep the trend going through the next ELEVATE Cohort of companies. There is great potential with the upcoming cohort with a great mix of technologies and impactful business models being scaled across 11 different Sub-Saharan African countries.
We hope to contribute significantly to the journeys of these entrepreneurs. Linda Yunia, Investment Readiness Manager at GOGLA
Participants in the first cohort raised almost $1 million
The companies that took part in the first cohort of ELEVATE were very satisfied with their participation, with 90% of them meeting their business targets since joining the program. During this time, the companies were able to raise $925 000, which is a success in an environment where African off-grid solar companies often have a harder time accessing funds than international ones.
ELEVATE is an amazing initiative which has opened not only the much-needed funding resources for the growth of Natfort Energy, but also facilitated the forging of priceless relationships with like-minded entrepreneurs from across Africa. Kudzi Chitiva, CEO and Founder of Natfort Energy, from the first ELEVATE cohort, who has since raised $250,000
ELEVATE is a complementary service to the GET.invest Finance Readiness Support, recently rolled out after a successful two-year pilot phase initiated in November 2021.
ELEVATE is a great fit with our GET.invest Finance Readiness Support, which assists early-stage locally owned and managed companies in the energy access space in accessing formal finance. Through our close collaboration with the ELEVATE team at GOGLA, we are certain that many more locally owned and managed companies can be empowered to better support under-served populations in sub-Saharan Africa. Michael Franz, Team Leader at GET.invest.
JPG
2nd ELEVATE cohort member FENA SOLAR youth training
The 18 companies from the 2nd cohort cover diverse geographies and market segments
The companies selected are based in 11 countries across Africa, with strong representation from Nigeria. Almost 30% of companies are majority female-owned and more than 60% have a majority female management. About 30% of t