Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Finance, pursuant to AQW 45575/22-27, whether any assessment has been made by the Northern Ireland Cyber Security Centre of the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence by criminals conducting cyber-attacks.
Minister of Finance: While the NI Cyber Security Centre (NICSC) supports awareness of cyber security threats and mitigation controls, it is the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), who is the UK’s technical authority for cyber threats. The NCSC has undertaken an assessment of the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence in cyber intrusion activity in its report, Impact of AI on cyber threat from now to 2027, published on 7 May 2025. The report concludes that AI will almost certainly increase the frequency and intensity of cyber threats and may increase the vulnerability of critical systems where cyber security protections do not keep pace.
As the national technical authority on cyber security, the NCSC provides a range of practical advice and guidance to support organisations from AI-driven threats.
Preparing for a ‘vulnerability patch wave’
Supporting AI adoption for UK cyber defence
Retaining defensive advantage in the age of frontier AI cyber capabilities
Why cyber defenders need to be ready for frontier AI
The NICSC signposts organisations to NCSC advice and guidance as well as using social media platforms to repost and share links such as that below.
https://x.com/NCSC/status/2053829133952573602?s=20
ENDS
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