Cyber Security
Classification: Unclassified
Branch/Agency: NCSB
Proposed Response:
- Our Government is enhancing cyber security and the security of its critical infrastructure against cyber threats through the delivery of the National Cyber Security Strategy, released in June 2018.
- Digital technologies and the Internet are integral to innovation and economic growth; the cyber security of those technologies is critical to Canada’s economic competitiveness, stability and long-term prosperity.
- Budget 2018 demonstrated our commitment to ensuring security and prosperity in the digital age with substantial investments in cyber security totaling more than $507 million over five years.
- The increase in spending for Public Safety in the 2020-21 Main Estimates represents three activities: Supporting Canadian Critical Infrastructure; Enhancing our Strategic Policy Capacity in Cyber Security and Cybercrime; and, Funding the Cyber Security Cooperation Program.
- These initiatives will allow Public Safety to: deliver a comprehensive risk management approach that will enable Critical Infrastructure owners and operators to better secure their systems and information; take a leadership role to advance cyber security in Canada; also, to support projects aimed at improving the security of Canada’s cyber systems, delivered by a range of stakeholders, such as academic and research institutions, small- and medium-sized enterprises, and other private sector partners.
- Budget 2019 demonstrated further commitment to the Strategy, investing an additional $145 million over five years to strengthen the cyber security of Canadian critical infrastructure in the finance, telecommunications, energy, and transport sectors.
Background:
The Internet provides opportunities for Canadians to participate in a new global digital economy and enjoy many social and economic advantages, but as people rely more on technology, they are more vulnerable to actors who seek to attack and undermine their digital infrastructure. By taking action to protect the cyber systems on which Canadians rely, the Government is protecting Canadians’ security, safety, economic prosperity and way of life.
In 2016, Public Safety Canada (PS) was tasked with leading a review of existing measures to protect Canadians and Canadian critical infrastructure from cyber threats. This review was carried out in collaboration with the Ministers of National Defence, Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Infrastructure and Communities, Public Services and Procurement and the President of the Treasury Board.
It should be noted that the public consultation was only one part of the broader Cyber Review. The results from the public consultations were consolidated with the results of:
- the Internal consultations across the Government of Canada; and,
- a horizontal evaluation of Canada’s Cyber Security Strategy, which focused on the importance of Canada’s first strategy from 2010 – 2015.
With Budget 2018, the Government of Canada has implemented a plan for security and prosperity in the digital age. The Government proposed significant investments of $507.7 million over five years, and $108.8 million per year thereafter, to fund a new National Cyber Security Strategy (Strategy). The Strategy focuses on three principal goals:
- To ensure secure and resilient Canadian systems;
- To build an innovative and adaptive cyber ecosystem; and,
- To support effective leadership and collaboration between different levels of Canadian government, the private sector and partners around the world.
Canada’s plan for security and prosperity in the digital age starts with strong federal cyber security direction to protect Canadians and their sensitive personal information. To that end, in Budget 2018 the Government committed $155.2 million over five years, and $44.5 million per year ongoing, to the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) to create a new Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (the Centre).
By consolidating operational cyber expertise from across the federal government under one roof, the Centre establishes a single, unified Government of Canada source of unique expert advice for Canadian citizens and businesses.
To bolster Canada’s ability to fight cybercrime, the Government also provided $116.0 million over five years, and $23.2 million per year ongoing to the RCMP to support the creation of the National Cybercrime Coordination Unit. The National Cybercrime Coordination Unit will create a coordination hub for cybercrime investigations in Canada and will work with international partners on cybercrime. The Unit will also establish a national public reporting mechanism for Canadian citizens and businesses to report cybercrime incidents to law enforcement.
Budget 2019 announced additional investments in the Strategy, totaling 144.9 million over five years. This proposed funding will help to protect critical cyber systems in the finance, telecommunications, energy, and transport sectors
Additionally, there are several noteworthy federal initiatives that are part of the Government’s broader approach to cyber security. These include Canada’s National Defence Policy, CSE’s work with the Minister of Democratic Institutions, amendments to CSE’s legislation, and Innovation, Science and Economic Development’s Innovation and Skills Plan and the current examination of emerging 5G technology.
On October 15, 2018, Statistics Canada released the first Canadian Survey of Cyber Security and Cybercrime. The first of its kind in Canada, the survey provides a baseline snapshot of the current threat environment in a manner not previously possible, providing new and current insights into the behaviour of Canadian businesses as they meet the cyber security challenges of a changing world.
Data for the survey were collected from January to April 2018. The target population included businesses with Canadian operations and with 10 or more employees, across all sectors, with the exception of public administration. The final sample size was 12,597 businesses and the response rate was 86%. A second survey was launched in January 2020, with data to be released in October 2020.
Contacts:
Prepared by: Jessica Baran, Senior Policy Analyst
Approved by: Dominic Rochon, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, 613-990-4976
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