Cyber is important, every Canadian relies on it and it’s constantly under threat. We all play an important role in cyber security; not one entity can do this alone. This also includes us at the Cyber Centre.Today’s cyber threat actors are becoming more effective, persistent and determined, which makes them even harder to protect and defend against.
In only three months, the Cyber Centre has tackled this head-on. The experts now assembled under our umbrella have long protected Government of Canada networks and worked with industry to prevent cyber incidents. Since our Oct. 1 launch, we’ve also taken our message to Canadians through the country’s first-ever unclassified National Cyber Threat Assessment.
This report focuses on cyber threats to Canadians, Canadian businesses and critical infrastructure, and outlines the likelihood that these sectors will encounter various types of cyber threat activity. The report’s analysis focuses on major cyber security threats affecting Canada and Canadians as determined by CSE’s cyber defence data expertise and assessment of the overall cyber threat landscape. While the report is unclassified, we see the kind of CSE intelligence on which it’s based as our unique contribution to any discussion of cyber threats.
We also provided a companion piece, an Introduction to the Cyber Threat Environment, to explain common terms and jargon used in the cyber security industry. This piece provides Canadians with the right information so we all speak the same language when defending against cyber threats.
Our goal isn’t to scare Canadians away from using technology. It is meant to inform Canadians of the threats they face, and will be the basis for simple things we can each do to make ourselves more secure. Simple things like patching your systems, using encryption and using strong complex passwords can go a long way.
The Cyber Centre will continue to ensure Canadians have newfound access to the security information they need. From a global perspective, it will strengthen Canada’s relationships with its counterparts in the Five Eyes.
This kind of cooperation – from people just learning how to secure their WiFi to international partnerships among cyber-security experts – is vital. We all share responsibility for cyber security. The innovative solutions we need to thwart today’s cyber threats require widespread collaboration and trusted partnerships. To have a resilient cyber-security community and keep an edge against malicious cyber threat actors, we need to work together: all levels of government, academia, and critical infrastructure have their part to play.
Part of our edge – the Cyber Centre’s unique advantage – is CSE’s other line of business: our foreign signals intelligence mission. Here, we covertly monitor communications and signals of foreign targets, allowing us to detect and better understand foreign-based threats as they develop. And we can use that knowledge to defend against those threats.
As much faith as I have in CSE’s expertise, I know the Cyber Centre can’t do it alone. We strongly believe in security through collaboration. That’s why we’re building partnerships with academia and the private sector. Partnerships like this are mutually beneficial. By engaging with the Cyber Centre, our partners help us understand market realities so we can better tailor the information we share.
In 2019, we will continue to provide strong leadership for the Government of Canada and collaborate with Canadians. Together we can help each other thwart today’s cyber threats and to be ready to face those of tomorrow.