Jess Ireland, CISSP, PMP

🇨🇦 Cybersecurity IS National Security: A Message to Our Leaders in Muskoka Following up on my recent thoughts about Bill C-8, I want to highlight an evolving challenge: AI-powered cyber threats are here, and they concern every Canadian individual and business—whether you’re in cybersecurity or not. As our leaders gather in Muskoka, discussions are rightly centered on our nation’s security and economic future. But in 2025, national security is tied directly to our ability to defend against sophisticated, AI-driven cyber attacks that target our data, our infrastructure, and even our democracy. What’s changed? AI lets attackers move faster and scale further. Phishing emails, deepfakes, and even the tools that scan for vulnerabilities now leverage AI, making them more convincing and harder to stop. Anyone can be a target. These attacks aren’t just going after large companies—they increasingly target Canadians at home and small businesses on Main Street. How does Bill C-8 fit in? The introduction of Bill C-8 is a positive step. It aims to set stronger cybersecurity standards and frameworks, but new rules alone aren’t enough. We all need practical support to keep up with this AI arms race. What would real support look like? Making AI-powered defenses and cybersecurity education accessible, not just for big corporations but for every Canadian business. Funding initiatives to help companies—especially SMEs—implement strong protections and respond quickly to threats. Running national campaigns so everyone, from students to seniors, understands the everyday risks of AI-assisted scams. A friendly ask to our Muskoka decision-makers: Please make “AI-enabled cyber threats” a key discussion point this week. Let’s give Canadian companies and citizens the tools, knowledge, and resources they need to spot, stop, and bounce back from modern cyber attacks. This isn’t just a tech issue; it’s about building a safer Canada for all of us. How are you or your business adapting to these new threats? Have you noticed more convincing scams lately? Drop your stories and questions below—let’s raise awareness and learn together. #BillC8 #CanadianInnovation #Cybersecurity #AIAwareness #NationalSecurity #Muskoka2025 #stratejm #teambell

84

2 Comments

Canada’s innovation and influence make it a target for cyber espionage and foreign interference. 🛡️CSIS plays an integral role in protecting Canada from these threats. Read more in the CSIS Public Report 2024: https://ow.ly/Ckiu50X2Wr4 #CyberSecurityNationalSecurity #CyberSecurityAwarenessMonth

109

6 Comments

Small audit functions can do big things, with the right tools. Dr. Martin "Skip" Langlois, NACD.DC discusses how AI is helping small teams develop audit programs, analyze data, and improve outcomes. Learn how to scale smart, even with a team of one, on the latest #AllThingsInternalAudit podcast. Check it out: https://loom.ly/5G_TGs8

65

1 Comment

We’re proud to announce the launch of the Cyber Security Cooperation Program (CSCP) 2025 — a $10-million investment over five years to strengthen Canada’s cyber resilience. The CSCP 2025 supports projects that promote cyber awareness, education, and collaboration. Eligible organizations include non-profits, academia, Indigenous communities, municipalities, provinces and territories, and for-profit organizations. Applications are now open until September 25, 2025: https://lnkd.in/er7REdCn #CyberSecurity #CSCP #DigitalCanada

293

2 Comments

At Amazon Web Services (AWS), we are delighted to support the AI Security Institute and an exceptional coalition of partners to launch The Alignment Project. AWS will join the likes of Anthropic and the Canadian AI Safety Institute in this initiative that will promote the development of advanced AI systems that are safe and reliable. The Project, with a total of £15M+ in funding, will focus on ensuring AI systems behave predictably and align with human values. We’re providing up to £5M in cloud computing credits to power critical research and experimentation, ensuring that companies, governments, academia, and researchers can together deliver groundbreaking generative AI innovation with trust at the forefront. The UK continues to demonstrate its leadership in AI innovation and safety, and we're thrilled to be support of this crucial mission. Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle, Geoffrey Irving, Jack Clark, John Davies, Evan Solomon, Mark Greaves, Charlotte Deane

66

4 Comments