3 Objectives  To continue to improve the ability of the State to respond to and manage cyber security incidents, including those with a national security component  To identify and protect critical national infrastructure by increasing its resilience to cyber attack and by ensuring that operators of essential services have appropriate incident response plans in place to reduce and manage any disruption to services  To improve the resilience and security of public sector IT systems to better protect data and the services that our people rely upon  To invest in educational initiatives to prepare the workforce for advanced IT and cybersecurity careers  To raise awareness of the responsibilities of businesses around securing their networks, devices and information and to drive research and development in cyber security in Ireland, including by facilitating investment in new technology  To continue to engage with international partners and international organisations to ensure that cyber space remains open, secure, unitary, free and able to facilitate economic and social development  To increase the general level of skills and awareness among private individuals around basic cyber hygiene practices and to support them in this by means of information and training 12