I propose to take Questions Nos. 416 and 417 together.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is an operational arm of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), and is the primary cyber security authority in the State. The NCSC provides a range of cyber-security services to operators of Critical National Infrastructure, including all Government Departments and Agencies.
The Department has previously been advised by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) that, for security reasons, not to disclose any details of its cyber security operations (including details of commercial relationships, audits/exercises and expenditure) which could in any way compromise the Department’s information security posture. In particular, it is not considered appropriate to disclose any information, which might assist malicious actors to identify potential vulnerabilities.