BCNET News
Announcing a New, National Program to Fund Cybersecurity Initiatives Across Canada’s Research and Education Sector
BCNET 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 BCNET is eligible to participate in this program. As the NREN partner IN British Columbia, BCNET is looking forward to working with our members to implement these funded initiatives.
By participating in the CIP, BCNET will be able to access/implement selected initiatives at no cost. The first three initiatives that will be funded are:
- CIRA DNS Firewall – Available December 2020
- CanSSOC Threat Feed – Available Winter 2021
- 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 our member institutions’ infrastructure and in turn the overall security of the whole sector – both in British Columbia and nationally.
How to Participate
To participate in the program, simply clink 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 BCNET 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 -specific webinars to discuss the implementation aspects of the DNS Firewall Initiative, including technical considerations and best practices.
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
Registration: www.canarie.ca/cipwebinar1
Webinar 2
January 11, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET
Registration: www.canarie.ca/cipwebinar2
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
Registration: www.canarie.ca/cipwebinar3
Webinar 4
Date & Time: January 12, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET
Registration: www.canarie.ca/cipwebinar4
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 BCNET:
BCNET is a not-for-profit, shared services organization that represents the interests of our members––colleges, universities and research institutes in British Columbia. We continuously engage with our members to explore, evaluate and develop solutions that meet their unique needs. Our aim is to build value through collaboration, drive down costs, maximize efficiencies, expand services offerings, enhance service quality and further the mission of our members.
Read more about BCNET at www.bc.net @BCNET_Network
For media inquiries, contact:
Tamara Klein, Communications Manager