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Cybersecurity Initiatives Program (CIP)

In response to the need identified by Canada’s research and education community for national coordination and alignment of cybersecurity efforts, the Government of Canada funds CANARIE to invest in collaborative initiatives that strengthen the whole sector.

Canada’s research and education (R&E) community is a cornerstone of national innovation, discovery, and economic growth—and it is increasingly targeted by sophisticated cyber threats. CANARIE’s Cybersecurity Program helps address this challenge through nationally coordinated, community‑driven initiatives that strengthen cyber resilience across research and post‑secondary institutions nationwide.  

 

A national framework created by the community, for the community

Launched in December 2020, CIP was shaped through collaboration with CIOs, CISOs, provincial and territorial NREN Partners, and sector leaders to align around a coordinated approach to cybersecurity.  

A Collective Defence Backbone for Canada’s R&E Sector 

CANARIE’s cybersecurity strategy is anchored in the principle of collective defence—the idea that institutions are stronger when they work together, share insight, and coordinate responses across a connected ecosystem.  

This approach is realized through CANARIE’s Collective Defence Backbone: a strategic, nationwide foundation that operationalizes: 

  • Shared situational awareness 
  • Trusted information and intelligence sharing 
  • Inter‑institutional and inter‑provincial and territorial collaboration 
  • Proactive cyber defence 
  • Coordinated response across Canada’s R&E ecosystem 

Collective Defence Services

Working together to elevate individual and collective cyber resilience and effectively prepare for, detect, respond to, and mitigate cyber threats.

Risk and Compliance Assessment & Prioritization
Risk and Compliance Assessment & Prioritization

Gain a clear view of cyber risks and compliance gaps at your institution and across the sector.

Consistent assessments can guide budgeting, planning, and priority setting at your institution for stronger, more resilient security programs.

Current Initiatives:

  • National Cybersecurity Assessment
  • Cybersecurity Benchmarking Service
  • Sector-Wide Cybersecurity Investment Analysis
  • Third-Party Risk Management (in Development)

Explore Risk & Compliance Services →

Actionable Threat Intelligence
Actionable Threat Intelligence

Gather, analyze, and share timely, relevant insights on emerging threats, vulnerabilities, and attacker techniques.

By turning intelligence into action, your institution can better understand the evolving landscape and take steps to stay ahead of potential attacks.

Current Initiatives:

  • Threat Feed & Dark Web Monitoring
  • Threat Bulletins & Alerts
  • Monthly Sector-Specific Threat Sharing Calls (CHESS) and Reports (CHECKERS)
  • Honeypots (in Development)

Explore Threat Intelligence Services →

Alert Synchronization, Triage, & Action
Alert Synchronization, Triage, & Action

Benefit from national-level visibility into cybersecurity alerts.

Through coordinated monitoring, correlation, and response support, your institution can strengthen its defenses and limit the spread of threats across Canada’s research and education ecosystem.

Current Initiatives:

  • CanSSOC Federated Security Operations Centre (in Pilot)

Explore Alert Synchronization & Triage Services →

Sharing & Pooling of Cybersecurity Resources
Sharing & Pooling of Cybersecurity Resources

Delve into a shared hub of cybersecurity guidance, templates, frameworks, and wise practices, designed to maximize collective expertise and reduce duplication of effort.

By pooling resources, your institution accelerates security improvements efficiently and cost-effectively.

Current Initiatives:

  • Cybersecurity Collaboration Hub (in Development)

Explore Shared Cybersecurity Resources →

By building shared capabilities once and making them available nationally, CANARIE’s cybersecurity services helps institutions elevate their cyber readiness and resilience while amplifying provincial, territorial and institutional investments.  

Through collaboration at national scale, CANARIE helps institutions better understand risk, respond to threats, and collectively advance cybersecurity resilience. 

Grounded in Partnership

Collective defense is only as strong as the partnership across our community and beyond. CANARIE recognizes the many who share in the execution of our collective mission:

  • Locally by research & education (R&E) institutions,
  • Regionally by provincial and territorial partners in the National Research and Education Network (NREN), and
  • Nationally by CANARIE and our federal partners, including the Canadian Centre for Cybersecurity, RCMP, and national institutions representing the R&E sector.
Participate in the Cybersecurity Initiatives Program

Related

Strategic and Technical Assessments
Threat Intelligence Services
Alert Synchronization & Triage Services
Shared Cybersecurity Resources
Participate in the CIP
Frequently Asked Questions
CIP Support

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