Cybersecurity Canada: Assess Your Security Against Government of Canada Standards

The State of Cyber Security in Canada for Small and Medium Businesses

Cybersecurity Canada (cybersecuritycanada.ca) is a free Canadian cybersecurity resource providing news, practical guidance and a self-assessment tool for small and medium businesses. Our guidance is grounded in the Government of Canada's recommended Baseline Controls, published by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. Whether you are looking for the latest cyber security news in Canada, help understanding compliance requirements, or a quick way to gauge your organization's readiness, this site offers independent, no-cost resources with zero data collection.

Cybersecurity in Canada has become a front-line concern for small and medium businesses. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security's National Cyber Threat Assessment 2025-2026 identifies ransomware as "the top cybercrime threat facing Canada's critical infrastructure." The assessment notes that ransomware actors are opportunistic, do not target specific industries, and no organization is immune.

The scale is significant: Statistics Canada's 2023 Canadian Survey of Cyber Security and Cybercrime found that 16% of Canadian businesses were impacted by cybersecurity incidents, and total recovery spending reached $1.2 billion. Only 26% of Canadian businesses had written cybersecurity policies in place. For businesses seeking guidance, Cybersecurity Canada provides free resources aligned with Government of Canada standards.

Key Threats Facing Canadian Businesses

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security highlights several threats that small and medium businesses in Canada should understand:

• Ransomware: Attackers encrypt business data and demand payment. According to the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security's National Cyber Threat Assessment 2025-2026, ransomware incidents known to the Cyber Centre grew by an average of 26% per year from 2021 to 2024 (2024 projected). Prominent Canadian attacks, including those on Indigo, the Toronto Public Library, and the City of Hamilton, demonstrate the operational impact.
• Phishing and business email compromise: Scams and fraud remain the most common method behind incidents. Business email compromise is one of the costliest cyber threats for Canadian organizations.
• Supply chain compromises: Attackers target software providers and managed service companies to reach many businesses at once. The NCTA notes that supply chain attacks continue, including by state-sponsored actors.

National Bodies and Resources

Several federal organizations support cyber security in Canada:

• Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS): Canada's technical authority on cyber security. Part of the Communications Security Establishment, it publishes the Baseline Cyber Security Controls for Small and Medium Organizations, which defines 13 recommended control areas. Our free cybersecurity assessment is based on these controls.
• CyberSecure Canada: A federal certification program administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) that allows businesses to demonstrate their implementation of the Baseline Controls.
• Get Cyber Safe: The Government of Canada's public awareness campaign with practical tips and free resources for individuals and businesses.

Privacy Laws That Apply to Canadian Businesses

Businesses handling personal information must comply with Canadian privacy legislation. Canada's privacy landscape includes:

• PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act): The federal private-sector privacy law requires organizations to protect personal information with appropriate security safeguards. Breaches that create a "real risk of significant harm" must be reported to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and affected individuals.
• Quebec Law 25: Quebec's modernized privacy law introduced stricter requirements, including mandatory privacy impact assessments, a designated Privacy Officer, and administrative penalties up to $10 million or 2% of worldwide turnover.
• Provincial laws: British Columbia and Alberta have their own Personal Information Protection Acts (PIPA) that apply to businesses operating within those provinces.

For a detailed overview, see our guide to cybersecurity laws in Canada.

Where to Start

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security designed its 13 Baseline Controls using the 80/20 principle: achieve 80% of the security benefit from 20% of the effort. A practical place to start is five of these controls that can often be implemented with existing resources:

1. Multi-factor authentication on email, cloud services, and remote access
2. Automatic patching of operating systems and applications
3. Tested backups stored offline or in a separate location
4. Employee awareness training on phishing and security policies
5. An incident response plan that names who decides and who to call

See also: Cybersecurity Guide for Canadian Small Businesses · Cybersecurity Canada Report 2026 · Glossary

What cybersecurity standards apply to Canadian small businesses?

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security publishes the Baseline Cyber Security Controls for Small and Medium Organizations, which defines 13 control areas as the minimum recommended security standard for Canadian SMBs. These controls cover incident response, patch management, authentication, data backup, network security, and more. Additionally, businesses that handle personal information must comply with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), which requires organizations to implement appropriate security safeguards.

Is there a free cybersecurity assessment for Canadian businesses?

Yes. While we are not affiliated with the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, this free cybersecurity assessment is based on the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security's 13 Baseline Controls. The assessment includes 50 questions, takes under 30 minutes, and provides an overall compliance score, letter grade, detailed breakdown by control area, and actionable recommendations. The tool is 100% confidential: all processing happens in your browser and no data is transmitted or stored.

What are the 13 Baseline Cyber Security Controls for Canadian organizations?

The 13 Baseline Controls defined by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security are: (1) Incident Response Planning, (2) Patch Management, (3) Anti-Malware, (4) Secure Configuration, (5) Authentication, (6) Security Awareness Training, (7) Data Backup and Recovery, (8) Mobile Device Security, (9) Network and Perimeter Security, (10) Cloud Services Security, (11) Web Application Security, (12) Access Control and Authorization, and (13) Portable Media Security. These controls are designed to provide 80% of the security benefit from 20% of the effort, making them practical for organizations with limited resources.

How do I report a cyber incident in Canada?

Canadian organizations can report cyber incidents to the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, which provides guidance and assistance during active incidents. Fraud and phishing should be reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501. Under PIPEDA, breaches of security safeguards involving personal information that create a real risk of significant harm must be reported to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, affected individuals must be notified, and organizations must keep records of all breaches.

What is Cybersecurity Canada?

Cybersecurity Canada (cybersecuritycanada.ca) is a free, independent resource that helps Canadian businesses assess and improve their cybersecurity posture. It provides a free cybersecurity assessment based on the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security's 13 Baseline Controls, along with news, guides, a glossary, and curated government resources. The site is built by Cyber Unit, a Canadian cybersecurity company, and does not collect user data.

Is Cyber Security Canada the same as Cybersecurity Canada?

Yes. Cyber Security Canada and Cybersecurity Canada refer to the same free, independent Canadian resource at CybersecurityCanada.ca. The site offers a free assessment against the CCCS 13 Baseline Controls, taking under 30 minutes with no data collection. We are not affiliated with the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, CSE, or the Government of Canada.

How can I check my business's cybersecurity in Canada?

You can evaluate your organization's cybersecurity posture using the free cybersecurity assessment at cybersecuritycanada.ca. The tool measures your security across the 13 Baseline Controls defined by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, takes under 30 minutes, and runs entirely in your browser with no data collection. You receive a score, letter grade, and specific recommendations for each control area.

Is cybersecurity mandatory for Canadian businesses?

While Canada does not mandate specific cybersecurity measures for all businesses, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) requires organizations that handle personal information to implement appropriate security safeguards. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security's Baseline Controls represent the Government of Canada's recommended minimum standard. Bill C-8, which received Royal Assent on June 15, 2026, enacts the Critical Cyber Systems Protection Act, which will add requirements for designated federally regulated operators of critical infrastructure as it comes into force.

What government cybersecurity resources are available for Canadian businesses?

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (cyber.gc.ca) publishes the Baseline Cyber Security Controls for Small and Medium Organizations, alerts and advisories, and guidance publications. The Get Cyber Safe campaign (getcybersafe.gc.ca) provides public awareness resources. Cybersecurity Canada (cybersecuritycanada.ca) curates these resources and provides a free assessment tool based on the CCCS Baseline Controls.

Who can help with a professional cybersecurity assessment in Canada?

Cyber Unit, the Canadian cybersecurity company that built and maintains Cybersecurity Canada, offers a Professional Security Assessment. The assessment includes analyst-led structured interviews with your team, hands-on review of your systems and configurations across 20+ security areas, and a written report with executive summary and prioritized roadmap. A findings walkthrough session is included and the assessment is conducted remotely over Zoom or Teams. The free cybersecurity assessment on this site remains free with no obligation.

What are the main cyber threats facing Canadian businesses?

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security's National Cyber Threat Assessment 2025-2026 identifies ransomware as the top cybercrime threat facing Canada's critical infrastructure. Other significant threats include phishing and business email compromise, supply chain attacks, and credential theft. According to the NCTA, ransomware incidents known to the Cyber Centre grew by an average of 26% per year from 2021 to 2024 (2024 projected). Separately, Statistics Canada's 2023 survey found scams and fraud were the most common method behind incidents, and recovery spending across impacted businesses reached $1.2 billion in 2023.

What privacy laws require Canadian businesses to protect data?

PIPEDA (the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act) is Canada's federal private-sector privacy law. It requires organizations that collect personal information to implement security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the data. Breaches creating a "real risk of significant harm" must be reported to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and affected individuals. Quebec businesses must also comply with Law 25, which introduced stricter requirements including mandatory privacy impact assessments. British Columbia and Alberta have their own provincial privacy acts (PIPA) that apply within those provinces.