New AI cybersecurity guidelines issued for public service

Source Domain: www.rte.ie

New cybersecurity guidelines have been issued for the safe use of artificial intelligence (AI) by the public service.

The advice from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is accompanied by an AI Cyber Security Risk Assessment.

The guidelines are designed to give public sector bodies concrete, actionable measures on dealing with AI systems from design and development through to deployment, maintenance, and secure retirement.

The measures are described as deliberately flexible, and the guidelines include worked examples to help organisations apply them in practice.

“AI is changing the world of cyber security for attackers and defenders alike,” said the Director of the National Cyber Security Centre, Dr Richard Browne.

“Part of these guidelines are about ensuring public bodies can take full advantage of it, adopting AI in a way that strengthens how we secure our networks and systems rather than exposing them to new risk,” Dr Browne said.

Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers said the guidelines give public sector bodies another practical tool to deploy AI with confidence, alongside existing guidelines for the Responsible Use of AI in the Public Service.

“Our focus is on enabling the public service to keep moving forward with this technology, and to do so securely and responsibly,” Mr Chambers said.

Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said his priority is to make sure AI is adopted in a way that protects the security of public sector bodies and national security.

“Through the National Cyber Security Centre, my department is giving public sector bodies the practical tools to do exactly that, to take advantage of what AI offers while keeping their systems, their data, and the State secure,” Mr O’Callaghan said.

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