Canadian Government Executive - Volume 23 - Issue 02

February 2017 // Canadian Government Executive / 19 HR Management ment, or CSE, as well. For over 70 years CSE has protected government systems and information through their leading- edge work in cyber security, as the centre of technical expertise for all aspects of cy- ber security for the Canadian government. Every semester they hire over 80 students through their co-op program, with a high number being bridged to full-time em- ployment. However, there is still a need for people who are passionate about cyber security and who want to contribute their skills to the challenging work at CSE. “Growth and innovation in the cyber se- curity field will be fostered by people who are excited by cyber discovery, innovative technology development, and collabora- tive analysis,” says Scott Jones, Assistant Deputy Minister for IT Security. “Our suc- cess as a country in this field will depend on three things: our tremendous talent and brain-power in the cyber field; the development of leading-edge technology; and collaborative partnerships, as cyber security is a team imperative.” Shared Services Canada (SSC) is actively recruiting for positions in the cyber and IT security field as part of its commitment to protect and secure the integrity of Gov- ernment of Canada systems, networks and information from cyber threats. SSC ensures security systems are built with protection from the onset, or more simply “security by design.” Cyber security spe- cialists in their 24/7/365 Security Opera- tions Centre detect intrusive activities. To build its capacity for highly specialized employees, SSC is reaching out to attract engineering and computer science stu- dents, and security analysts. It promotes cyber and IT security employment oppor- tunities through career fairs at universi- ties and colleges, and by using social me- dia (Twitter and LinkedIn). The Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre (CCIRC) is also taking concrete steps to better position itself for the fu- ture by attracting some of the best young professionals in the field, even before they complete their studies. It has discovered the benefits of developing relationships with colleges and universities, and more importantly with many students in the fields of computer sciences and IT security. Every year, it hires many students who become an integral part of the CCIRC team, and invites them to participate in their Geek Week event where they work alongside some of the best cyber technical professionals from Canada and abroad to develop tools to address cyber threats. For the students, it is an opportunity to gain concrete experience and new skills by tackling real cyber security issues, as well as to build relationships within the cyber security community. In return, CCIRC gains new ideas, perspectives and solu- tions that help address current and future cyber security threats to better protect Canada’s vital cyber systems, as well as build relationships with prospective can- didates. “As Canada’s National Computer Secu- rity Incident Response Team, we have a strong appreciation of the benefits that come from working with students and academia in Canada,” says Adam Hat- field, Senior Director at CCIRC. “The ability for us to employ students is an integral part of our operation as they bring to us new ideas, great enthusiasm, and provide the basis for renewing our workforce. The security of Canada’s cy- berspace is made stronger through the contribution of students and academia pursuing education and undertaking valuable research in this area”. As more and more organizations are taking steps to strengthen their cyber security capabilities and working in col- laboration to address cyber issues and threats, everyday people are also taking it more seriously. Cyber security incidents are now more visible than ever and, even though most do not know how an attack was orchestrated, they do understand the consequences and impacts of such actions — and the importance of cyber security. In the past few years, there has been an increase in public awareness campaigns and educational tools/platforms to in- form the public of the threats and how they can protect themselves and their devices. Both, private sectors and govern- ments have a vested interest in ensuring that users do not compromise their sys- tems and networks. The general public, including parents and children, are becoming more aware of cyber security issues and best practices, seeing cyber security as a natural compo- nent of both individual privacy and soci- ety’s critical systems. This increase in vis- ibility is helping pique general interest and the chances that youth will want to learn more about pursuing a career in the area of cyber security. Just like doctors, teachers, or engineers can be seen as essential com- ponents of the labour market, so too will people who specialize in cyber security. Overall, the Government of Canada has become a key player in spreading aware- ness about cyber security via their Get Cyber Safe campaign, which promotes online safety through various online plat- forms. Canada is one of 50 organizations and states that are members of the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise and are work- ing on practical initiatives to strengthen cybersecurity, fight cybercrime, protect online data and support e-governance. It’s also a key player in the Global Cam- paign to Raise Cybersecurity Awareness initiative that aims to raise awareness of cyber-related threats and best practices worldwide, while empowering citizens with knowledge and a sense of shared re- sponsibility to practice safe and informed behaviours on the internet. The future presents both challenges and exciting opportunities for cyber se- curity, which will play a crucial role in al- most every facet of society and the global economy. Organizations that attract the top candidates will capitalize on diverse perspectives and create workplaces that foster growth and access to opportunities; ultimately becoming innovative leaders in their field and ensuring Canada can carve out its competitive advantage. As the Government of Canada renews its approach to cyber security, it will focus on maximizing the benefits of digital life for Canadian citizens and businesses, focus- ing on Canada’s cyber security capability, resilience and innovation. Encouraging growth and innovation in cyber security is crucial so that Canada can continue to reap the benefits of the digital global econ- omy. To do so, Canada will need to foster a robust cyber security workforce, as well as expertise in leading-edge cyber security technology. The challenge of finding skilled, talented cyber security specialists is being felt across government, and is a particular focus for the Communications Security Establishment as well.