CGI (TSX: GIB.A) (NYSE: GIB), one of the world’s largest independent IT and business consulting services firms, has partnered with the Chief Executives’ Forum (CEF) to deliver a senior leadership briefing. The event focused on strengthening cyber resilience across Northern Ireland’s public services.
Cyber Security – Back to Basics offered a practical, interactive session designed to build confidence and capability at board and executive level. The briefing forms part of CGI’s ongoing commitment to supporting public sector organisations across Northern Ireland and the UK to strengthen cyber resilience, manage risk effectively, and protect the continuity of essential public services.
The session took place against the backdrop of continued cyber-attacks targeting public services, both locally and across the UK and Ireland. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) reports handling around four nationally significant incidents each week. In Northern Ireland, recent incidents such as the attack on the Education Authority, temporarily disrupting access to digital services across every grant-aided school ahead of exam revision, highlight the real-world impact cyber incidents can have on essential services.
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Delivering the keynote address, Gary Fildes, Cyber Security Senior Consultant at CGI, said:
“Cyber-attacks disrupt public services not because organisations lack technology, but because the basics of planning, governance and assurance haven’t been applied consistently. Cyber risk needs to be treated as a core operational risk at board level, with clear accountability for decisions that reduce exposure and improve recovery. I’m pleased to bring CGI’s experience in supporting public services to leaders across Northern Ireland, and to share practical steps that can be taken now to strengthen resilience. Leaders don’t need to be cyber specialists, but they do need the confidence to prioritise resilience, ask the right questions and act decisively when it matters.”
The briefing combined an overview of emerging cyber threats with practical steps organisations can take to strengthen resilience. Attendees also participated in a simulated incident exercise to test decision‑making. Contributions from Hugh Tohill (Northern Ireland Cyber Security Centre) and Keith McDevitt (Cyber Scotland) reinforced board‑level responsibility for cyber risk and the leadership lessons that shape effective response and recovery.
Judith Gillespie, CBE, Chair of the Chief Executives’ Forum (CEF), added, “Cyber resilience is now a core leadership responsibility for every organisation. This briefing was designed to help senior leaders focus on the governance, decisions and preparedness that make the difference when an incident happens. Through the Chief Executives’ Forum, we aim to provide our members with a trusted space to share experience, learn from peers and strengthen leadership capability on issues that cut across the public sector. By learning directly from organisations that have been through cyber incidents, leaders can strengthen readiness and improve recovery for the services people rely on.”
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