We Stand on Guard for a Secure ICT Infrastructure

Bernard Courtois, President and CEO ITAC

We do a lot of thinking at ITAC on issues of global competitiveness for our industry and for the overall economy. Competitiveness requires secure infrastructure, applications and practices. Moreover, the success of our industry is dependant on these same elements of security so we can maintain confidence in and ensure the effectiveness of information and communications technology.

Canada has strong representation and strong companies in the field of cyber security so it is not surprising that cyber-security is an important area of interest and work for ITAC. Our Cyber-security Forum is the prime vehicle for this work. It brings together representatives of member firms and the government security establishment on a regular basis to discuss cyber security policy issues.

ITAC has been active for many years in these issues through initiatives such as Industry Canada’s Spam Task Force and consultations with the Privacy Commissioner on breach notification guidelines. We have also been active in coordinating industry representation on legislation and potential legislation on lawful access, ID theft and other issues.

We also conduct events like the conference “Cyber Security: Developing a Canadian Strategy” that ITAC presented with the Public Policy Forum and ITAC member Symantec on March 27, 2008. That conference brought together industry and government experts including high level representatives from the United Kingdom and the United States. The conference developed a strong consensus on the need and importance of a cyber security strategy for Canada and on the key elements that should be included in such a strategy.

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IT Security and SMB's: Keeping it Simple

By Michael Murphy, Vice-President and General Manager, Symantec Canada

Michael Murphy

Ninety-five per cent of Canadian businesses are considered small to mid-sized (SMB's), making them the financial backbone of the nation’s economy. These companies are run by entrepreneurs who understand their business’ success is often the result of taking and avoiding risks. The last thing an SMB owner wants is to become a victim of an uncalculated risk, such as an IT network crash, or a major data loss. That is precisely why SMB's must make IT-related threats a top priority.

It’s wrong to think that cyber-criminals are uninterested in attacking small business. On the contrary, SMB networks are easy targets for the propagation of viruses, bots, spam and phishing websites. Why? Lean budgets and minimal staff means small business owners become their own IT managers; and since these businesspeople are not necessarily security specialists, they might lack the experience and time needed protect information and infrastructures.

Fortunately, implementing a sound IT protection strategy isn’t as difficult as some might think. However sophisticated or unsophisticated the SMB network might be, IT strategies are rooted in a few simple steps. For example, instituting robust password policies, deploying Internet security solutions like firewalls, and conducting regular data backups are all smart first steps towards protecting an SMB’s critical assets. While these are the rudiments of network security, they are exceedingly important.

This strategy doesn’t require in-depth technical skill or knowledge of computer systems. By following it, business owners eliminate several unnecessary risks by keeping their business safe from cyber crime and ensuring the integrity of crucial data.

Michael Murphy is Vice President and General Manager of Symantec (Canada) Corporation

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Member Profile: Third Brigade

Brian O'Higgins and Third Brigade Executive Team

Third Brigade is an Ottawa based company that specializes in providing host intrusion defense systems to government, healthcare, financial services and all organizations that need to detect and prevent attacks that exploit vulnerabilities in their systems. Third Brigade’s ‘Deep Security’ product allows businesses to apply comprehensive security profiles to hosts that protect against known and "zero-day attacks," allowing organizations to deliver Internet-based services with greater security and confidence.

How is Cyber Security software innovation different than other types of software?

Our business is a little different than others because the innovation cycle is actually driven by the bad guys … informed customers that are really improving their security standards, look for the new innovative vendors on the street .

You are a member of ITAC's Cyber Security Forum, what kind of work or initiatives is the forum involved in?

I put it more in the category of more of an information flow, there is some dialogue but really decisions aren’t taken on shaping policy — they (government speakers) report on the status of what they are doing.

 Is there interaction with Government? How has the response been during your time on the committee?

All the membership has visibility with the government and they can provide input. The government speakers are quite comfortable briefing a group of like-minded companies.

If I’ve got one complaint, it is government procurement. For us, our product performance has been phenomenal … our customers are very happy. Now when it comes time to let the government try to buy our product, it’s very difficult. The department (within the government) wants to but it takes a lot of work and long delay until a small company can get a procurement vehicle going with the government.

What are some of the things we should be doing in Canada, in addition to existing protocols, to increase cyber security.

Canada is actually still considered a best practice leader in terms of cyber security, it’s hard to believe but it really is true. It’s appreciated more the further away from the country you get.
This reputation largely came from events that were put in place ten years ago and I think Canada has been coasting on that reputation for a while and our edge is slipping. We’re not paying attention to cyber security and there are no specific initiatives or programs.

One of the very big things that the government can do to improve cyber security is to help domestic industry and when they find a player with best in class technology, really help by buying the product and deploying the product.

The government purchasing power is so important, and that can really help a lot of products and improve their (government) security standards.

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ITAC NEWS

Ontario Budget Reflects Strategy for the Knowledge Based Economy
Ottawa. March 26, 2008. The Honourable Dwight Duncan, Ontario Minister of Finance delivered a budget yesterday that asserts the Province’s determination to build a strong knowledge based economy and provide an attractive environment for investment by knowledge based enterprises. It also helps lay the foundation for a strong information and communications technology strategy for Ontario. To view the full release, go to: http://www.itac.ca/MediaCentre/ITACNewsRelease/Mar26_OntBudget_Release.pdf

ITAC's Submission on Proposed Procurement Ombudsman Regulations
ITAC recently submitted commentary on proposed procurement ombudsman regulations. In the response, ITAC outlined several areas where the proposed regulations could be improved. To view ITAC’s submission go to: http://www.itac.ca/MediaCentre/ITACOnline/08MarchCommentsbyITAC.pdf

ITAC Responds to Letter of Interest Request from PWGSC
In a letter of interest dated February 2, 2008, PWGSC invited comments on new versions of Supplemental General Conditions 9601-4 (Licensed Software) and Supplemental General Conditions 9601-5 (Maintenance and Support Services for Licensed Software). ITAC welcomes the opportunity to provide these comments on behalf of its members. To read the full submission, go to: http://www.itac.ca/MediaCentre/ITACOnline/08March9601Submission.pdf

ITAC Concerned Over EU Attempts to Reclassify ICT Products Outside the ITA
In a February 25, 2008 letter, ITAC expressed our industry’s concern with recent moves by the European Union to reclassify new ICT products in contravention of at least the spirit of the World Trade Organisation’s Information Technology Agreement (ITA). As you know, the ITA has been tremendously successful, both globally and domestically, in accelerating deployment of information and communication technologies across virtually all sectors of all economies; these deployments have vastly increased productivity and economic growth worldwide. To read the full text of the letter, go to: http://www.itac.ca/MediaCentre/ITACOnline/08MarchDavidEmerson.pdf

Call for Nominations – ITAC IT Hero Awards
ITAC has officially launched the Call for Nominations for the 8th Annual ITAC IT Hero Awards presented by Intel. . The ITAC IT Hero Awards celebrate and recognize creative applications of information technology that significantly improve the lives of Canadians and readily demonstrate the social and economic benefits. ITAC developed the award program in 2001 collaboratively with Industry Canada as a feature of IT Week, a time to reflect on the successful impact of IT on society. Now entering its 8th year, the ITAC IT Hero Award program has been expanded to include a corporate-level award. For more information or to nominate visit http://www.itheroawards.ca.

Call for Expressions of Interest for Board of Directors for ITAC's CHITTA Division
The Chitta Board determines the strategic directions and priorities for the CHITTA division of ITAC and provides guidance to staff on matters of interest to the membership and the health information technology industry as a whole. To be eligible to sit as a CHITTA Director your company must be a member of  ITAC and active in the Canadian healthcare marketplace, and your nominee would typically be the person most responsible for said healthcare activities. For additional details, please go to: http://www.itac.ca/MediaCentre/ITACOnline/08MarchCHITTA.pdf

ITAC EVENTS

SMC Best Practice Spring Forums
Understanding Best Practices in the Project Management of New Product Development
In a recent study undertaken by Deloitte on behalf of ITAC, approximately 20 ITAC member companies participated by providing confidential information on project execution and project management methodologies. This was compared with a global study undertaken by Deloitte in 2007 which specifically included the Semiconductor sector. The results showed a 15% lower percentage for ITAC’s microelectronics companies of new product revenue to total revenue!

Highlights from the survey will be presented along with recommendations for systemic improvements in the project management of new product developments. Participants will discuss these specific recommendations in terms of their direct relevance to the Canadian industry as well as the practicality of their implementation.

So please register now to join us in either Montreal (April 8), Ottawa (April 9) or Toronto (April 16) to gain better insight into a complex subject and enjoy valuable networking time with your colleagues in an informal sharing of best industry practices.

ITAC Marketing Roundtable: "The Customer Connection"
April 9, 2008, 7:30 AM - 10:00 AM
MaRS Discovery District 101 College Street, Room CR-2AB, Toronto
They are low-hanging fruit – ripe for the picking. Your customers represent highly profitable sales opportunities, but how do you harvest those opportunities successfully? At the next ITAC Marketing Roundtable, presented by the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) and sponsored by SMA, a seasoned panel of marketing executives will discuss how they have nurtured customer relationships to drive more revenue. For additional information, contact Micheline Levesque at (613) 238-4822 ext 245 or E-mail: mlevesque@itac.ca. To register go to: https://secure.e-registernow.com/cgi-bin/mkpayment.cgi?state=280

ITAC Board of Governors Dinner: "An ICT Strategy for Ontario"
April 15, 2008, 6:00 PM
The Old Mill Inn, 21 Old Mill Road, Toronto
ITAC is pleased to announce that our special guest for our Board of Governors Dinner on April 15 will be the Honourable John Wilkinson, Minister of Research and Innovation. Mr. Wilkinson served as Parliamentary Assistant to Premier McGuinty in the last Ontario Government. Following his re-election last October, he was appointed to Cabinet, succeeding the Premier in the role of Minister of Research and Innovation. For additional information, contact Micheline Levesque at (613) 238-4822 ext 245 or E-mail: mlevesque@itac.ca. To register go to: https://secure.e-registernow.com/cgi-bin/mkpayment.cgi?MID=280&state=step2direct&event=420209174874125

The Consumerization of Microelectronics
April 29 - April 30, 2008 Bromont, Quebec
A typical consumer product used to be single function, simple to use and targeted at a limited number of people prepared to pay for that particular user experience. This drove straight forward functional specifications which were addressed by multiple component vendors, with most value going to the microelectronics industry.  Join us as experts from global enterprises discuss the opportunities for microelectronics companies as consumer and corporate solutions clash. To register, go to: https://secure.e-registernow.com/cgi-bin/mkpayment.cgi?MID=280&state=step2direct&event=411113166102172)

CHITTA Annual BLUES NIGHT @ eHealth 2008
May 06, 2008, 9:00 PM
Caprice Night Club, 967 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC
CHITTA is once again holding its annual Blues Night in conjunction with the eHealth Conference 2008. The Blues Night has become the after-hours networking event of the conference. Admission will be available to all eHealth conference participants by Invitation from sponsors and CHITTA Members exhibiting at the eHealth 2008 Conference. For more information, contact: Elaine Huesing, Executive Director, CHITTA, the Health Division of ITAC at ehuesing@itac.ca.

OTHER NEWS AND EVENTS

Ontario Government Announces New CIO for Children Youth and Social Services Cluster
Corbin Kerr has been selected as the next Ontario Government Chief Information Officer for the Children, Youth and Social Services Cluster. Corbin will be replacing Helena Taylor effective March 31, 2008. Corbin began his OPS career 21 years ago with the Ministry of Community and Social Services. He has held progressively responsible positions in many different government portfolios including Community and Social Services, Agriculture and Food, Northern Development and Mines; Transportation, Education, and Government and Consumer Services. Corbin will be starting in the position effective March 3, and will be transitioning with Helena until her retirement date. Lee Prasaud will continue to act in the position of Executive Lead, Infrastructure Operations.

 IT360 Conference and Expo
April 7 – 9, 2008
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON
“Cultivating Innovation in Technology” takes off at the interactive IT360 experience. IT360 is the only industry event that fully integrates key industry participants from diverse sectors. Save hundreds of hours, researching and testing the complex applications you need to deploy on a limited budget. IT360 is a “teaching conference” where you will learn about current applications and solutions, innovations, tools & technologies, what works and what does not and what is most relevant to your organization. For more information, please see event site: http://www.it360.ca

Expanding Markets and Opportunities for Canadian Companies in Turkey April 17, 2008, Park Hyatt Hotel, Toronto, ON
The Canadian-Turkish Business Council and its partner, the Turkish-Canadian Business Council of DEIK (Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey) will jointly present an investor and trade conference. The conference will bring together leading Canadian company exporters and investors, key Turkish officials focused on promoting Turkish investment and top regional experts. It also coincides with the visit of a Turkish business delegation to Washington, D.C. and Toronto. Complete registration and conference details can be found at www.ctbc.ca. For inquires contact: Lana Polyakov, CTBC Secretariat, Tel: (416) 979-1875

OCRI Partnered Events: Creating Customer-Centric Websites Masterclass Monday, May 5, 2008 - Tuesday, May 6, 2008 RA Centre, Clark Hall, 2451 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, ON
Learn how the success of your website comes from a relentless focus on the tasks of your customers. This Masterclass will give you the tools, knowledge and arguments to show why a customer-centric approach is the best way to serve customers - whether they are citizens, potential customers or your own staff. The future of web management is task management. If you are managing technology, content or websites, you are managing from an organization-centric point of view. If you manage tasks, you are managing from a customer-centric point of view. For more details or to make a reservation, contact: Allison McManus, Conference Administrator (613) 828-6274 ext. 224, email: amcmanus@ocri.ca.

DELTEK INSIGHT ‘08 May 19 - May 22, 2008 Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center Nashville, Tennessee
Anyone serious about planning, executing and managing projects won’t want to miss this event where more than 3,000 Deltek users are expected to attend. The event brings together Deltek’s customers, partners, and industry experts for a three-day learning and networking experience focused on Deltek solutions and the unique needs of project-focused businesses. SOMOS Consulting Group Ltd. is a Deltek partner and an authorized Canadian reseller of Deltek’s EPM software suite. Together we implement enterprise project management solutions utilizing Deltek’s best-of-breed EPM suite at organizations that are serious about managing their projects. Full conference details and online registration are available at www.deltekinsight.com.

Building on Success - 12th CCWESTT Conference 2008 May 29 - 31, 2008, Guelph, ON
The CCWESTT conference in 2008 is an opportunity to bring together all stakeholders - women in SETT, educators, industry representatives and community facilitators - to examine the intersecting areas of education, the workplace and career-life balance. The program will include opportunities to communicate the latest research and best practices to enhance diversity in SETT, for career support and networking, and to engage in strategic planning of future initiatives. For more information, please contact: cwse@uoguelph.ca or go to the conference site at http://www.ccwestt2008.ca.

WCIT 2008 – World Congress on Information Technology May 18 - 22, 2008, Malaysia
Held once every two years, the World Congress on Information Technology is a premier global ICT forum that brings together global leaders in business, government and academia. Often billed as the Olympics of ICT, it impacts global economic and social development through the exchange of policies and ideas on technology.  Keynote speakers are expected to include some of the most respected and admired names in Government and industry. For more information, please see the event site at: http://www.wcit2008.org.

Banff World Television Festival June 8 – 11, 2008, The Fairmont Banff Springs, Banff, AB
Join international delegates at the world's premiere television content creation event, June 8 to 11, 2008. As an ITAC member you can save 10 per cent off the early-bird rate, giving you over $550 in savings off the regular registration rate. Register today to network, pitch and seal deals at the 29th annual Banff World Television Festival. For more information, visit www.banff2008.com. To take advantage of this offer email Kerry Gardiner at kgardiner@achillesmedia.com before April 3rd, 2008.

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