Human error is now the primary attack surface. Training employees is the fastest way to reduce financial risk.
In the summer of 2017, criminals posing as a trusted construction vendor quietly infiltrated the daily operations of MacEwan University in Edmonton. Beginning in late June, employees exchanged routine emails that appeared legitimate, complete with accurate logos and professional language. The attackers requested updated banking details, a common administrative change. Over several weeks, three payments were processed on August 10, 17, and 19, ultimately transferring about $11.8 million to fraudulent accounts. The deception was uncovered only on August 23, when the real supplier called to ask why it had not been paid. There was no malware, no system breach, no dramatic shutdown of networks. The institution was compromised through ordinary communication and unchallenged trust, proving that modern fraud targets people and processes before technology.
For Canadian businesses, the lesson is stark. Every employee now sits on the front line of cyber defense, whether they work in finance, human resources, operations, or the executive suite. The sophistication of fraudulent emails, AI generated impersonation, and social engineering tactics means that a single untrained decision can trigger financial losses that rival major market shocks. Cybersecurity can no longer be confined to IT departments or annual compliance sessions. It must become part of corporate culture, reinforced through continuous education, simulations, and exposure to real world threat intelligence. Organizations that fail to train broadly are effectively relying on luck, assuming attackers will choose another target.
“Cybersecurity today is not about protecting computers. It is about preparing people,” says François Guay, Founder and CEO of the Canadian Cybersecurity Network. “The organizations that will remain resilient are those where every employee understands they play a role in protecting revenue, reputation, and trust. Attackers only need one person to believe a convincing story. Businesses need everyone trained to question it.”
As fraud schemes grow more advanced and collaborative among criminals, the response must also be collective. Companies that engage with the wider cybersecurity community gain access to shared knowledge, training resources, masterclasses, webinars, and peer experiences that no single organization can develop alone. Business networks dedicated to cyber resilience provide practical education for entire workforces, from frontline staff to board members, turning awareness into prevention. The most effective defense is not secrecy or isolation but participation in a trusted community focused on strengthening Canada’s economic security.
For businesses determined to reduce the risk of becoming the next headline, investing in comprehensive staff training and engaging with a national community such as the Canadian Cybersecurity Network is no longer optional. It is prevention in its most practical form, ensuring that when the next fraudulent message arrives, someone inside the organization recognizes it before the damage is done.