Cyber Security Awareness Month: Strengthening Canada's Digital Defense
The month of October has great significance for our digitally connected world
because it is Cyber Security Awareness Month (CSAM). The year 2023 marks the
20th Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Our dependency on the digital world is
increasing every day and CSAM plays a vital role in safeguarding Canada's digital
landscape. It is important for everyone to be aware of cyber security threats and
to take necessary precautions to protect their digital devices and data.
Cyber Security in Canada
No denying the fact that technology is advancing and the tactics used by cyber
criminals are also increasing. It is very important for people to stay updated with
the latest cyber security trends and to take proactive measures to protect their
digital life. The country continuously grapples with challenges such as
ransomware attacks, phishing scams, and unauthorized access attempts. With
the rise in connectivity, the risk landscape becomes more complex, necessitating
a proactive and holistic approach to cyber security.
Canadian Government Initiatives
The nation’s digital security is in everyone’s hands. In order to safeguard the
populace from digital attacks, the Government of Canada has implemented a
number of initiatives to protect its citizens and businesses from cyber threats.
These include providing cyber security awareness training, creating
cybersecurity policies, and investing in cyber security research and
development.
• The Cyber Centre
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security is part of the Communications Security
Establishment. This is a central hub for all cyber security operations and
expertise. Advice to the individuals, small and medium businesses, large
organisations, government institutions, and academia. This is the right platform
for having expert guidance on cyber security related issues, and a great source
of support for Canadians to protect themselves from cyber attacks. This cyber
centre even allows people to report their cyber incidents.
• National Cybercrime Coordination Centre (NC3)
Cybercrime investigations are complex and time consuming. The National
Cybercrime Coordination Unit is a team armed with the special investigation
skills required to coordinate cybercrime investigations in Canada. As set out in
the Government of Canada's National Cyber Security Strategy and the RCMP
Cybercrime Strategy, the National Cybercrime Coordination Centre (NC3) was
established. It includes RCMP officers and civilians from many backgrounds. It
works with law enforcement and other partners to help reduce the threat,
impact and victimization of cybercrime in Canada. The NC3 works closely with
domestic and international partners and is the steward of:
• The National Police Services Cybercrime Committee (NPS CC)
• The NC3 Implementation Steering Committee
• Regulatory Framework
The Canadian government continues to enhance its regulatory framework to
address emerging cyber threats. It promotes data privacy and security by
implementing laws such as the Personal Information Protection and Electronic
Documents Act (PIPEDA) and the Digital Privacy Act.
Collaborative Initiatives
Apart from the Government initiatives, it is the responsibility of different sectors
to look for certain ways with which cyber crime can be controlled. There is a dire
need to have a control on this type of risk. According to the recent survey by RBC
Bank, a majority of Canadians (88 per cent) report they've experienced an
increase in attempts at fraudulent activity, and seven out of 10 (73 per cent) say
they were knowingly targeted. Let’s delve deeper into how collaborative efforts
can work well in order to reduce fraud. Governments and financial institutions
can work together to develop better strategies to protect consumers from fraud.
Companies can also invest in fraud detection and prevention technologies to
better detect and prevent fraud.
• Cyber Security Awareness Programs
In order to spread awareness about the threat of ongoing cyber attacks, it is good
for both private and public sectors to conduct awareness drives. This will educate
the public and will help in curbing the issues of growing cyber attacks.
• Information Sharing
Organizations, both public and private, actively participate in sharing threat
intelligence and information about emerging cyber threats. Collaboration
platforms and information-sharing networks facilitate timely and effective
responses to cyber incidents.
• Trainings and Workshops
Timely training sessions and workshops should be conducted by different
working sectors so as to make every employee aware about the ongoing online
risks and potential data leaks. CSAM offers training opportunities and workshops
focused on cybersecurity best practices so as to make people aware about the
risks involved with their digital working world.
Final Thoughts
Adopting simple precautions such as using strong passwords and updating
software regularly can go a long way towards protecting our digital lives.
Furthermore, it's pertinent to be aware of phishing scams and other malicious
attempts to gain unauthorized access to our digital devices. Regular security
checks and online security courses can help stay up-to-date with the latest cyber
security threats. Finally, it's important to be vigilant when it comes to our online
security.
ABM College in Canada offers a Cyber Security program that provides students
with the knowledge and skills needed to protect and secure their digital devices.
The course covers the topics which are necessary to be a cyber security
professional. If you are looking for a way to secure your devices and data,
consider enrolling in the ABM College Cyber Security program. It's a great way
to learn the necessary skills and knowledge to stay safe and secure online.
Blog Source: https://www.abmcollege.com/blog/cyber-security-awarenessmonth-strengthening-canadas-digital-defense