CyberVoices

Canada has extensive cybersecurity resources designed to protect its citizens and businesses from the ever-evolving threat landscape. The government provides assessments, alerts, and guidance aimed at informing and safeguarding the public. However, despite these efforts, a significant number of Canadians and small businesses remain unaware of where to turn for this critical information.

The Canadian Cybersecurity Network (CCN), with a membership of 42,000 professionals and a supported employee base of around 1 million, encounters this gap in awareness daily. Each week, CCN receives 5-10 emails from individuals and businesses seeking urgent advice on how to respond to cyberattacks—clear evidence that many are not aware of the existing government resources. To bridge this gap, CCN has reached out to establish direct connections between its platform and government resources, aiming to provide a more straightforward path to cybersecurity information and support. Unfortunately, the majority of these offers are dismissed, with the belief that the current channels are sufficient.

This decision is perplexing. If the current framework is so effective, why do so many Canadians struggle to find the information they need? This reluctance to collaborate raises concerns about the government's willingness to proactively increase public awareness. One would expect that government organizations would be eager to work with a network as vast as CCN and many others to enhance the dissemination of critical cybersecurity information across provinces and Canada.

Imagine the potential impact if the government actively collaborated with organizations. An outreach program that leverages the reach of large associations, technology groups, and community networks could significantly improve public awareness and cybersecurity practices across Canada. Instead, there seems to be a preference for working in isolation, under the assumption that the existing efforts alone are sufficient. This "set it and forget it" approach is inadequate in the face of constantly evolving cyber threats.

Cybersecurity requires a united front. Collaboration and proactive engagement are essential to stay ahead of cybercriminals. It's time for Canadian government organizations to embrace the value of partnership in this fight. Ignoring offers for collaboration only strengthens the perception that they believe they can tackle this challenge alone. Building true cyber resilience in Canada demands a collective effort—not isolated attempts that overlook the power of working together.