Summary of the Mid-Term Evaluation of the National Cyber Security Strategy – Public Safety Canada’s Initiatives

About the Program

As digital technologies become a greater part of Canadian business, public services, and individual lives, so do the associated risks and threats.

The National Cyber Security Strategy (NCSS) was launched in 2018. Public Safety (PS) is responsible for three initiatives under the NCSS, which result in outputs such as research and recommendations, training and exercises for members of critical infrastructure (CI) sectors, and funding for projects contributing to the federal government’s leadership role in advancing cyber security in Canada.

The total allocated funding for the three PS initiatives from 2019-20 to 2023-24 is $33.2 million, which includes $24.6 million from the NCSS.

What We Examined

The purpose of the evaluation was to examine the progress made by PS’s NCSS initiatives in achieving their outcomes to improve cyber security in Canada. The evaluation covered the activities from fiscal year 2018-19 to mid-2021-22.

Evaluation Findings

Recommendations

The Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, National and Cyber Security Branch, should:

  1. Enhance leadership and coordination efforts by prioritizing work on the forward policy agenda, including addressing information sharing challenges and forming relationships with other levels of government, particularly provinces and territories;
  2. Develop and implement follow-up processes to collect information regarding the implementation of mitigation measures by participants as a result of activities for CI sectors;
  3. Develop an approach to utilize CSCP project findings to inform the NCSS policy agenda and decision-making;
  4. Increase awareness of how aspects of diversity and inclusion inherent to GBA Plus apply to cybersecurity.
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