Government of Canada announces new National Cyber Security Strategy and the creation of the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security

Date: 12 June 2018

Purpose

Government of Canada Announces New National Cyber Security Cyber securityThe protection of digital information, as well as the integrity of the infrastructure housing and transmitting digital information. More specifically, cyber security includes the body of technologies, processes, practices and response and mitigation measures designed to protect networks, computers, programs and data from attack, damage or unauthorized access so as to ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability. Strategy and the Creation of the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security

Assessment

Digital technologies and the internet are increasingly important for innovation and economic growth and strong cyber security is critical to Canada’s competitiveness, economic stability and long-term prosperity.  To that end, the National Cyber Security Strategy (the Strategy) is designed to adapt and provide the Government of Canada and its partners continued growth and prosperity in the sector even as technologies and threats evolve. 

The Strategy includes numerous initiatives, key among them being: a consolidated centre of cyber security operations, the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre). The new Cyber Centre will consolidate the work of Public Safety Canada’s Canadian Cyber Incident Cyber incidentAny unauthorized attempt, whether successful or not, to gain access to, modify, destroy, delete, or render unavailable any computer network or system resource. Response Centre (CCIRC), the GetCyberSafe public awareness campaign, Shared Services Canada’s Security Operations Centre and the Communication Security Establishment’s (CSE) Information Technology Security branch, under CSE.
Instead of several different departments, the Cyber Centre will provide a single window for expert advice and services for governments, critical infrastructure Critical infrastructureProcesses, systems, facilities, technologies, networks, assets, and services essential to the health, safety, security, or economic well-being of Canadians and the effective functioning of government. Critical infrastructure can be stand-alone or interconnected and interdependent within and across provinces, territories, and national borders. Disruptions of critical infrastructure could result in catastrophic loss of life, adverse economic effects, and significant harm to public confidence. operators, the public and the private sector to strengthen their cyber security.

The Strategy also includes the announcement of a new National Cybercrime Coordination Unit under the RCMP which will provide coordination services to law enforcement to combat cybercrime.

Suggested Action

CCIRC suggests that partners review the new National Cyber Security Strategy and announcements regarding the creation of the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security.  At this time there is no change to the operations of CCIRC and we encourage all of our partners to continue working with and reporting to CCIRC per their standard operating procedures.  More information regarding the creation of the Cyber Centre is to come in the following months.

References:

New Cyber Security Strategy bolsters cyber safety, innovation and prosperity