As Internet usage increases, Canadian cybersecurity field grows ...

November 20th, 2012 by Procom News

Every October, government and business leaders promote Cyber Security Awareness Month, which is increasingly becoming a growing concern for citizens across Canada.

A perceived threat
According to a recent report by The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA), the Canadian Internet Forum (CIF) ? a series of online survey-based discussions ? found that security against viruses, cyber-crime and spam is becoming a greater issue for Canadians that frequently use the Internet. Owing to this concern is the amount of Internet users in Canada, which is roughly double the worldwide average, according to the report.

"It comes as no surprise that Canadians identified security as a top challenge," said Byron Holland, president and CEO of CIRA. "It's much too important to be left to someone else to look after and I thank those Canadians who took the time to contribute their views during the CIF."

Due to the growing demand for an increased cybersecurity presence, organizations across the board are looking for skilled IT professionals to fill these necessary vacancies. From government agencies, financial services and manufacturing departments, many organizations now rely on robust interconnected networks in the workspace. However, these same institutions that use cloud-based software, for example, are also more at risk of cyber predators.

"Canadians do business and access government services online, but unfortunately, cyber space is also exploited by criminals," said the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety during Cyber Security Awareness Month's Get Cyber Safe campaign.

Beginning a career
With the need for high-paying security IT jobs in North America growing, the first thing those professionals looking to begin a career in the cybersecurity field should do is to get certified, according to IT World Canada. Credentials range from taking comprehensive tests that challenge participants with a large body of experience and knowledge so they are ready to handle real world threats, such as a data breach, reported the news source.

However, a fast track to getting hands on experience is joining a federal agency or the military, as both have extensive job opportunity in this field, according to the source. As more of these industries and Canadian citizens are threatened by the risk of malware, there becomes a growing impetus on crime prevention and national security to handle the threats.

"The RCMP [Royal Canadian Mounted Police] has a broad mandate when it comes to cyber crime. Today numerous crimes are committed or facilitated through Internet technologies," explained RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson. "This includes organized crime, money laundering, credit card fraud, child exploitation and crimes threatening Canadian networks and critical infrastructure."

"In fact cyber crime, including computer viruses/malware, online scams and phishing, is estimated to cost Canadians in excess of one billion dollars per year," added Commissioner Paulson.

Source: http://www.procom.ca/blog/?p=1398&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=as-internet-usage-increases-canadian-cybersecurity-field-grows

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