October marks the start of a new federal approach to cyber security in Canada. Today we launch the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, housed under the Communications Security Establishment. Although it may seem as if today has been a long time coming, for some of us it has arrived in the blink of an eye.
I remember a time when computer science and IT Security were emerging into the mainstream. Organizations were coaxing employees to use electronic mail. In late 1999, when I began working at CSE, the world was gripped in fear as we prepared for the Y2K bug to bring about the end of everything.
This all seems pretty funny now, but it wasn’t so long ago.
Now parents reserve email addresses for their kids before they know how to talk. Those born in the past two decades are digital natives who wouldn’t think twice about downloading the newest app to their phones. For a significant number of Canadians, it’s the only thing they’ve ever known.
That’s what makes the establishment of the Cyber Centre so important. Opting out of a digital life is becoming more difficult, if not impossible.
We need to ensure that this new digital way of life is not only convenient. It has to be secure. Canada’s competitiveness, economic stability, and long-term prosperity depends on a secure and safe cyber space. And that's why the work of the Cyber Centre is critical.
Today we bring the operational cyber security experts across government under one roof as we launch the Cyber Centre. We have seen an increased desire for a more unified approach to cyber security. Industry partners, academia and government partners have been clear they want a leading federal voice in cyber security in this country.
The creation of the Cyber Centre is a major milestone in the way the Government of Canada approaches cyber security. It is forward thinking, it is innovative and it is necessary.
When we look back this moment in five, 10 and even 20 years’ time we should see this as a fundamental shift in Canada’s digital landscape. Cyber security is a team sport and we need everyone to be on the same team to strengthen the whole country. The vision for the Cyber Centre is to be a place where private and public sectors can work side-by-side to tackle the most complex cyber security challenges facing Canada and the global community.
We are looking to our trusted partners to help us leverage the operational strengths we're bringing together. Through collaboration we will tackle together the evolving challenges that are unique to cyber security.
So while this is Day 1 for the Cyber Centre, I am really looking forward to the days to come. We have an opportunity to build, to innovate, to create, to protect, to defend, and to develop a new era in cyber security in Canada.
Welcome to the Cyber Centre.