Press Releases

Announcing a New, National Program to Fund Cybersecurity Initiatives Across Canada’s Research and Education Sector

Toronto, November 30, 2020 – ORION is pleased to announce the launch of a new, collaborative national program that will fund cybersecurity initiatives across Canada’s research and education (R&E) sector. In response to a community identified need for national coordination and alignment of cybersecurity efforts, the Government of Canada (through Innovation, Science and Economic Development) is funding CANARIE to invest in initiatives that will strengthen the whole sector with advanced technologies, improved processes, and broadened expertise.

Known as the Cybersecurity Initiatives Program (CIP), priority initiatives will be delivered to eligible organizations through the provincial and territorial partners in Canada’s National Research and Education Network (NREN). We’re happy to confirm that ORION is eligible to participate in this program. As the NREN partner for Ontario, our team is looking forward to working with you to implement these funded initiatives.

By participating in the CIP, ORION will be able to access/implement selected initiatives at no cost. The first three initiatives that will be funded are:

  1. CIRA DNS Firewall – Available December 2020
  2. CanSSOC Threat Feed – Available Winter 2021
  3. Intrusion Detection System (Join the JSP) – Available Spring 2021

All initiatives funded through the CIP are intended to integrate with each other to strengthen the security of your infrastructure and in turn the overall security of the whole sector – both in Ontario and nationally.

To participate in the program, simply click the link below to submit the short participation form to our colleagues at CANARIE. Their team will follow up with you to execute a participation agreement (“Organization Cybersecurity Collaboration Agreement”). Once the Agreement has been executed by both parties, our team will contact you with next steps for accessing/implementing available initiatives.

Click to Participate in the Cybersecurity Initiatives Program

To read more about this program and view a list of FAQs, please visit: canarie.ca/cybersecurity

Informational Webinars:

We also encourage you to register for the webinars below that best fit your interests and schedule. Speakers will include representatives from CANARIE, initiative providers, and leaders from the R&E cybersecurity community. Stay tuned for Ontario-specific webinars to discuss the implementation aspects of the DNS Firewall Initiative, including technical considerations and best practices.

The Cybersecurity Initiatives Program: National Alignment for Local Impact

Who should attend: VPs responsible for Finance and Administration, Executive Directors, Public Policy Analysts, provincial and territorial government representatives; operators of provincial digital research infrastructure, journalists, and others interested in the research and education security landscape

Webinar 1: December 15, 2020 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET

Webinar 2: January 11, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET

The Cybersecurity Initiatives Program: What it Could Mean for Our Organization

Who should attend: CIOs, CISOs, Directors of IT and/or cybersecurity professionals at Canadian R&E organizations

Webinar 3: December 16, 2020 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET

Webinar 4: January 12, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET

About the NREN:

The National Research and Education Network (NREN) is an essential collective of infrastructure, tools and people that bolsters Canadian leadership in research, education, and innovation. CANARIE and its twelve provincial and territorial partners form Canada’s NREN. We connect Canada’s researchers, educators, and innovators to each other and to data, technology, and colleagues around the world.

About ORION:

ORION is a not-for-profit organization supporting Ontario’s progress with essential digital infrastructure. Since 2001, we’ve facilitated new discoveries by connecting research and education institutions, regions, and people across the province, enabling collaboration, learning, forging partnerships, and providing our community with the digital tools and expertise they need to make the world a better place. 

Read more about ORION at orion.on.ca.

For media inquiries, please contact info@orion.on.ca.