The federal government has launched a CyberSecure Canada certification program, a new voluntary initiative for small to medium-sized businesses to learn the fundamentals of cybersecurity.
“CyberSecure Canada will help raise the bar for small and medium organizations across Canada and build confidence in our digital economy.”
The new initiative, which falls under the National Cyber Security Strategy, aims to give certified businesses official recognition by the federal government for demonstrating their compliance with baseline security controls. Certification requires participants to implement security controls developed by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. The government said these security controls are intended to give SMEs the greatest amount of protection with the least amount of burden.
“Canadian businesses are being, and will continue to be, targeted by cyber threat actors,” said Scott Jones, head of the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, a source of guidance, services, and support on cybersecurity for government, the private sector, and the Canadian public.
“Many of the most common cyber threats can be mitigated through awareness and best practices,” he stated. “CyberSecure Canada will help raise the cybersecurity bar for small and medium organizations across Canada and build confidence in our digital economy.”
The federal government will offer a series of e-learning modules following the CyberSecure Canada Program to help business owners and employees learn about cybersecurity risks and threats. Issues covered in these modules include identifying risks and threats, implementing appropriate cybersecurity best practices, and identifying opportunities to improve and manage cybersecurity.
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‘Get Cyber Smart’ is another online tool that offers business owners resources on topics such as filing cyber-safe taxes, protecting privacy on new smart devices, and information on cybersecurity risks. The Ministry of Innovation, Science and Economic Development will provide businesses with digital and print versions of a certification mark.
“There’s so much Canadians can do online, from connecting with friends and family, to personal shopping, to building a business,” said Bill Morneau, minister of finance. “This online activity is good for our economy and helps create good, well-paying jobs. At the same time, it’s critical that Canadians feel confident about the security of their interactions and information.”
The government also announced $997,000 in funding for TechImpact, to help the organization with a talent development pilot for the cybersecurity sector. The organization helps nonprofits make sense of large-scale technology projects, technology maintenance, and support, and the new project will focus on cybersecurity, in partnership with educational institutions and the private sector.
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