Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to your questions

 

What is the Canadian Cybersecurity Network?

CCN is Canada’s largest cybersecurity community with over forty-five thousand members and a reach of more than one and a half million professionals across the country. We connect individuals, businesses, educators, and thought leaders to accelerate learning, collaboration, and national resilience.

What is CCN’s mission?

To grow cybersecurity talent, help businesses scale, and strengthen cybersecurity awareness across Canada. Everything we build is designed to help people learn faster, connect more easily, and contribute to a stronger digital future for the country.

Who founded CCN?

Francois Guay founded CCN to unite Canada’s cybersecurity ecosystem and eliminate the barriers that slow progress in talent, business growth, and national collaboration.

What makes CCN unique?

CCN is community first. We are not a traditional association. We bring students, newcomers, professionals, CISOs, founders, educators, policymakers, and global experts onto the same level playing field. Our platforms create real outcomes, real opportunities, and real learning across the country.

What platforms are part of the CCN ecosystem?

CCN includes several connected platforms
CCN Circle, the home for community, masterclasses, networking, and learning
CCN Careers, Canada’s only dedicated cybersecurity job board with free job postings for Canadian companies
Career Navigator, an AI assisted pathway tool that helps job seekers map skills, training, certifications, and the right career direction
Events Hub, a national platform for cybersecurity events

Multiple CCN applications like a business directory, association directory, business connector, Survey platform, Community leadership Award and various member services

All platforms work together to help talent and businesses succeed.

What is CCN Circle?

CCN Circle is the community home for networking, learning, masterclasses, and peer to peer support. It hosts member directories, company directories, live events, skills discussions, and a growing suite of CCN apps.

 

What is CCN Careers?

CCN Careers is Canada’s only dedicated cybersecurity job portal. All Canadian based cybersecurity jobs can be posted for free. Job seekers can explore roles, build their career path, assess skill gaps, and access best in class training programs.

What is Career Navigator?

Career Navigator is CCN’s guidance tool for anyone pursuing or advancing a cybersecurity career. It uses frameworks like NICE and the Canadian Cyber Security Skills Framework to help people understand job families, required skills, training options, and career progression in a clear and accessible way.

Who can become a CCN member?

Anyone interested in growing their cybersecurity career or business. Students, newcomers, analysts, engineers, CISOs, founders, educators, and corporate teams all participate. Companies across Canada join as business members to gain visibility, hiring support, networking, market access, and national exposure.

What are the benefits of a CCN business membership?

• Visibility to Canada’s largest cybersecurity community
• Free job postings on CCN Careers
• Introductions to members and partners
• Exposure through CCN media partnerships including Postmedia
• Early access to speaking opportunities, webinars, and conferences
• Participation in national research reports
• Access to CCN apps and business engagement tools
• Opportunities to scale across Canada and globally

What are CCN’s national reports?

CCN publishes Canada’s leading cybersecurity industry reports including

• State of Cybersecurity in Canada
• OT and Critical Infrastructure Security Report
• Pulse Check Health Care Cybersecurity Report
• Cyber Towns and regional insights
• Future Cyber and Defence Report

These reports are created with national partners and include expert commentary, original data, sponsor contributions, and country wide analysis.

What is CCN Insights?

CCN Insights is our national knowledge and research hub that brings together data, expert analysis, and community intelligence from across Canada’s cybersecurity ecosystem. It includes our major national reports, custom data analysis, sponsor insights, trend forecasting, and sector specific research. CCN Insights helps leaders, policymakers, and businesses understand what is happening on the ground and what is coming next, so they can make informed decisions with clarity and confidence.

Does CCN conduct national or regional surveys?

Yes. CCN runs national and regional surveys to support our research, reports, and articles. These surveys help us surface real trends, identify emerging challenges, and give a voice to the community. We also conduct national and regional surveys of our membership, leaders, and broader networks to meet the needs of customers in the private sector, public sector, and education sector. These insights guide thought leadership and support the development of CCN tools, products, and data driven services.

Does CCN work with government, academia, and industry?

Yes. CCN actively collaborates with federal and provincial agencies, universities and colleges, accelerators, global cybersecurity associations, and hundreds of private sector companies. Our approach is collaborative and non partisan.

How does CCN support students and newcomers?

Through free job postings, accessible career tools, mentorship programs, Career Navigator guidance, events, competitions, and community learning inside CCN Circle. We help students become job ready and help newcomers gain confidence, visibility, and connections.

What is the CyberGuardians volunteer program?

CyberGuardians is CCN’s volunteer community for people who want to contribute to national cybersecurity growth. Volunteers can support events, research, mentorship, community projects, or content creation. Some roles are remote. Open to Canadians and full time students.

How does CCN generate revenue?

Through sponsorship of national reports and events, business memberships, marketplace services, partner programs, training partnerships, and integrated community experiences. Most career tools are kept either low cost or free to maximize access.

How does CCN stay independent?

CCN does not represent any single vendor or sector. We collaborate broadly across government, industry, and academia. Independence is maintained through community governance, transparent partnerships, and a mission centered on national benefit rather than commercial interest.

How do companies get involved?

Companies can join as business members, list in Launch Delta, partner on research, participate in events, provide training, sponsor reports, or collaborate on community and talent initiatives. CCN helps match the right opportunities to the right organizations.

How do individuals get started?

• Join CCN Circle
• Explore CCN Careers
• Use Career Navigator
• Attend events
• Join CyberGuardians
• Connect with peers and grow your skills, network, and opportunities