By Clare Guinness, CEO at Belfast Chamber
If there is one clear lesson from the pace of digital change facing Northern Ireland’s business community, it is that cybersecurity can no longer sit quietly in the background of business operations or the IT department. Instead, it should sit in the boardroom, in strategic planning conversations, and in every decision we make about how we use technology and protect data.
Businesses across our region are entering a new era of opportunity driven by artificial intelligence, automation and data-led decision-making. But opportunity and risk move at similar speeds, and those organisations that treat cybersecurity as a technical problem alone will increasingly find themselves at a competitive disadvantage.
These conversations have been reinforced through ongoing industry collaboration at events such as the first Belfast Cyber Expo, hosted by Leaf IT in partnership with Belfast Chamber, where business and technology leaders explored how organisations can practically respond to this rapidly changing landscape.
What has been particularly encouraging is the growing recognition among business leaders that cybersecurity is not simply an operational cost, it is a commercial safeguard.
The scale of the challenge cannot be ignored. Global insights have revealed that ransomware attacks increased by 43% year-on-year, while phishing attacks surged by 1,200% in 2025, largely driven by AI-powered social engineering. Closer to home, the UK Government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 found that 43% of businesses and 30% of charities experienced a cyber incident within the past year.
These are not abstract statistics. They represent real financial, reputational and operational risks for businesses of every size.
At the same time, the adoption of artificial intelligence across Northern Ireland has accelerated at remarkable speed, with over 80% of businesses now using AI tools in some form. That level of enthusiasm is positive as it shows ambition, innovation and a willingness to compete globally, however, it appears that adoption is accelerating faster than governance.
This is where leadership becomes critical.
AI is not just a productivity tool, it is a strategic capability. Used well, it can help businesses make smarter decisions, improve customer experience and unlock new markets. Used
without governance, it can expose sensitive data, weaken trust and create compliance risks that are difficult to reverse.
Research from the Northern Ireland AI Survey 2025, produced by Galvia Digital in partnership with Belfast Chamber and the Department for the Economy, reinforces this picture. While 83% of businesses are already using AI, 73% have no formal AI policy. Many organisations also report that they are not yet measuring the real business impact of AI adoption beyond efficiency gains.
The research, which captured responses from more than 200 organisations across Northern Ireland, highlighted that businesses want to innovate. But they need practical support to do so safely and sustainably.
For business leaders, the question is no longer whether to utilise AI or new digital tools, but rather how to use them responsibly, securely and strategically. Employees need guidance and instruction to ensure that human error, one of the key weaknesses, is managed and reduced.
We must also ensure that our economy combines innovation with responsibility. This will require greater investment in digital skills, the strengthening of data foundations, and the evolution of governance frameworks alongside technology adoption.
Cyber resilience should sit on every risk register and growth strategy as a core business function and boards should take ownership of digital risk, just as they would any other strategic risk to the organisation’s future success.
A shift in mindset is required. Cyber resilience planning needs to be implemented with the understanding that an attack is inevitable, and those who fail to adequately prepare risk leaving themselves exposed.
Northern Ireland’s economic future will be shaped not just by how quickly we adopt new technologies, but by how confidently we control and secure them. In a world defined by digital competition, resilience will be an important competitive advantage.
We are better placed that most, with Belfast having such a strong and scaling cyber cluster - the technical and academic expertise from our tertiary education sector needs to directly aid our local SME’s.
If we get this right, AI and digital innovation can help Northern Ireland businesses grow faster, compete smarter and operate more securely on the global stage. The responsibility to make that happen sits with business leaders.
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