On April 18, 2013, Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews announced announced the release of the Action Plan 2010-2015 for Canada’s Cybersecurity Strategy. The action plan was intended to highlight Canada’s commitment to defending Canada’s cyber infrastructure as well as protecting and advancing Canada’s national security and economic interests. The plan also demonstrated steps that have already been accomplished by the Canadian government under Canada’s Cybersecurity Strategy, which is aimed at enhancing partnerships with industry and other governments to protect critical infrastructure systems, as well as ensuring the security Canadians’ personal information in cyberspace.
Under the 2010-2015 Action Plan, the three fundamental pillars of Canada’s cybersecurity policy are
- Securing government systems;
- Partnering to secure vital cyber systems outside the Federal government;
- Helping Canadians to be secure online;
As examples of how Canada has progressed in implementing its cybsecurity policy, the April 18th release states that the Government of Canada:
- Signed the Cybersecurity Action Plan Between Public Safety Canada and the Department of Homeland Security to enhance the strong partnership and cooperation on cyber security matters between both countries, in 2012.
- Shared Services Canada to streamline and secure the management of federal information technology infrastructure, in 2011;
- Launched Get Cyber Safe – the national public awareness campaign on cyber security;
- Announced $155 million in additional funding to reinforce the digital infrastructure, which includes investments to enhance the capacity of the Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre (CCIRC) at Public Safety Canada, in 2012
More significantly, the Action Plan also highlights ongoing work in areas such as:
- continuing to improve Government capacity to detect, defend against, respond to and recover from cyber threats and incidents;
- working with partners in the provinces and territories, in the private sector, and internationally, in order to improve collective cyber security;
- supporting cyber security research and development; and
- continuing activities to promote public awareness of cyber security.
While these periodical updates from Public Safety Canada offer a reassuring, small glimpse into some of the efforts that have been undertaken by the Canadian government, cybersecurity is an area which demands continued, non-stop attention and broad collaboration. While Government funding are cross-border cooperation are undoubtedly one part of the puzzle, a large part of ensuring the security and safety of Canada’s cyber infrastructure in our 21st century digital economy depends on a broad awareness by the Canadian population – at all levels and across all industry sectors – of the vital importance cybersecurity plays on sovereignty, democracy, the rule of law, the economy and national security.
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