Today, the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (the Cyber Centre) launched the Critical Infrastructure Resilience and Escalated Threat Navigation (CIREN) initiative. CIREN helps critical infrastructure (CI) organizations understand, prepare for and practice responding to severe cyber incidents. Its purpose is to help organizations maintain essential services during worst-case scenarios, including widespread and prolonged cyber disruptions.
Canada's critical infrastructure - including energy, telecommunications, transportation and water - faces a growing range of cyber threats. State-sponsored actors may seek to disrupt or damage these systems as part of broader geopolitical tensions. Non-state actor threats may also pursue cybercrime activities for financial gain. At the same time, rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are being leveraged to scale attacks and exploit vulnerabilities more quickly.
While the motivations and threats might differ, the potential impacts are similar. Severe cyber incidents can disrupt essential services and undermine public safety, economic stability and national sovereignty.
CIREN outlines three key actions organizations can take to strengthen their cyber readiness and resilience:
- Prepare to isolate critical systems for up to three months
- Develop and test response plans to operate independently
- Plan for rebuilding systems after severe cyber incidents
Taken together, these actions help organizations prepare in advance to protect essential services and support Canada's safety and sovereignty.
