Ontario strengthens cybersecurity to protect Ontarians online

TORONTO — Ontario’s Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery Kaleed Rasheed issued a public statement, in which he acknowledged the beginning of October as the start of Cyber Security Awareness Month.

He called this an opportunity to highlight the importance of cyber security in the daily lives of Ontarians.

Rasheed is also crediting the Ontario government for helping to shift the delivery of services to people and businesses in Ontario, enabling online accessibility.

“In doing so, we have made the safeguarding of data and information our top priority,” said Rasheed in a statement.

The minister announced the release of the Cyber Security Expert Panel Report. Ontario appointed the 10-member expert panel two years ago to identify cyber security challenges across government municipalities, and the broader public sector.

This report focuses on how the Ontario Public Service and broader public sector organizations can strengthen the province’s cyber security network and better protect the public. Through this, the province is striving to provide the guidance and supports that municipalities and organizations like hospitals, school boards, colleges and universities, and children’s aid societies need to prevent and respond to future cyber attacks.

The recommendations centre on four key themes, which include reinforcing governance and operating models, improving education and training, expanding communication between organizations, and embracing cross-sector shared services to better mitigate future cyber attacks.

Additionally, the province plans to use the expert panel’s recommendations to shape the foundation of its cyber security policies and help develop best practices shared across all sectors as well as inform future targeted investments in its cyber capabilities and defences.