Cybersecurity and Digital Resilience: Building a Culture of Cooperation
“Our success depends on our ability to bring together policymakers, operational experts, and technical specialists to raise awareness, improve understanding, and drive unified action in the face of cybersecurity challenges,” says Daniel Blanc, newly appointed Executive Director of the Forum INCYBER Canada.
A former member of the Canadian Armed Forces with 37 years of service, Blanc believes the foundations of digital resilience can only be built through a structured exchange framework involving stakeholders from all sectors. This includes the coordination of public and private capabilities, as well as the development of skilled talent. In Canada and beyond, cybersecurity professionals are increasingly emphasizing this collective and cross-sectoral approach.
That is precisely the mission of the Forum INCYBER Canada. Designed as a platform for exchange among public officials, business leaders, researchers, and field practitioners, the annual event in Montréal brings together key stakeholders from the North American cyber ecosystem, with an open window to the international community.
Anticipation, Information Sharing, Resilience
Amid rising geopolitical tensions and continuous pressure on critical digital infrastructure, those working on the frontlines are also convinced of the need for cross-sector dialogue. Martin Laberge, Executive Director of Cybersecurity at Énergir, highlights how the energy sector has become a direct target: “We’re seeing more and more attacks aimed at destroying or disabling infrastructure, with real impacts on the population.” This exposure calls for a cultural shift in how cyber risk is managed, along with changes in professional practices. “Today, I regularly collaborate with CISOs from other sectors through formal exchange networks—something that simply didn’t exist five or six years ago,” Laberge notes. The rationale is clear: the vulnerability of one actor can impact an entire sector. “We used to learn about cyberattacks from the news. Today, people realize that keeping information to themselves is no longer an option.”
This shift is exactly what Daniel Blanc seeks to foster on a broader scale. “True success lies in connecting stakeholders at the national level while also building bridges with allies and partners around the globe.”
A Human and Technological Challenge
At the Forum INCYBER, these issues are tackled from an experiential perspective, combining insights from business, government, and academia. “The key lesson, in my view, is the importance of building trust face to face,” insists Daniel Blanc. “To form lasting relationships in the cyber or digital space, we need to meet in person—only then can we truly engage in concrete discussions on sensitive topics.”Beyond information-sharing, Blanc champions a broader vision of cybersecurity, one where innovation, intelligence, and strategy move forward in unison. “If we want to stay ahead of malicious actors, we must be ready to invest quickly and at scale, while also taking calculated risks in specific areas.”
In this light, Forum INCYBER Canada is positioned as a collaborative working space, not just a showcase. Cross-sector and cross-border proximity is increasingly strategic. Each year, the Forum welcomes delegations from around the world, reinforcing international coordination around cybersecurity issues. “These relationships and opportunities extend beyond federal and provincial/territorial governments, they reach globally,” says Blanc. His approach acknowledges a central truth: “Cybersecurity is closely linked to both Canada’s economic and national security.”
For Daniel Blanc, the stakes are worth the effort. The goal is to foster a culture where public and private actors share a common language, common priorities, and a shared sense of responsibility. That, he says, is the true path to achieving digital resilience. The 4th edition of Forum INCYBER will take place from October 14th and 15th at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. The events theme “Digital Trust: A New Era.” More information can be found: https://canada.forum-incyber.com