Enhancing Cyber Resilience: Canada’s New Cybersecurity Readiness Goals for Critical Infrastructure
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security released its Cyber Security Readiness Goals (CRGs) on October 29, 2024. This guidance provides Canadian critical infrastructure (CI) operators with 36 actionable goals designed to enhance security, minimize risks, and reinforce Canada's resilience against evolving cyber threats. Aligned with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0, the CRGs support system owners in protecting vital assets and improving the security posture across various sectors, including energy, finance, healthcare, and telecommunications. Key Threats Addressed Canada's CRGs address the increased cyber risks impacting CI. Key threats include: Nation-State Cyber Actors: CI sectors face persistent targeting from state-sponsored actors in countries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, using cyber operations for espionage, geopolitical leverage, and potential disruption of essential services. Ransomware Attacks: Targeted ransomware (or "big game hunting") poses an immediate threat to CI operators who, facing operational disruptions, are often more willing to pay large ransoms. This tactic…