Current Investments in Cyber Security and Critical Energy Infrastructure

• Leveraging the expertise of the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre), the Canadian Gas Association (CGA) will establish a system to facilitate the near real-time two-way exchange of technical information between the Cyber Centre and natural gas distribution companies throughout Canada.

• The Blue Flame Program is supported by Natural Resources Canada with contributions from the CGA and four of its members including Enbridge, SaskEnergy, Pacific Northern Gas, and FortisBC.

• This two-way sharing system will help to enhance the situational awareness of natural gas distribution companies and provide the Cyber Centre increased visibility of the Canadian threat landscape thereby enabling more timely action and responses to cyber threats.

• This initiative will improve the cyber security and resilience of Canada’s natural gas distribution systems ensuring Canadians have access to safe and reliable energy supplies. 

• University of Waterloo will develop an innovative hardware assurance system to detect compromised parts and devices, and verify the integrity of electronic components in order to protect Canada’s energy infrastructure.

• The proponent will work with project partners Bruce Power, which will provide equipment, and evaluate machine learning processes and the overall performance of the system, and Palitronica Inc, a Canadian cybersecurity hardware and software company, which will provide hardware sensors to enable the technology development.

• The project will help organizations gain visibility into vendors and suppliers’ supply chain security practices, making it easier to identify and mitigate potential supply chain risks.

Cyber Resilience for Electricity Redistributors in the Context of Industry 4.0

Université de Sherbrooke

Research and development

• In partnership with Hydro-Sherbrooke, the Université de Sherbrooke will implement essential cyber security and resilience improvements to Hydro-Sherbrooke’s infrastructure by leveraging cutting-edge technology, including artificial intelligence and machine learning.

• The multidisciplinary research team will aim to do so by conducting a review of best governance practices in cyber security for the electricity sector, as well as by designing and building a prototype of a “Smart Intrusion Detector”.

• The project will offer Canadian organizations advanced solutions to protect their electricity infrastructure against cyber threats, and ensure a safe, secure and resilient sector.

2020-2022

$376,050

$751,050

• The proponent will develop an Industrial Control System (ICS) Cybersecurity Risk Methodology to assist energy sector owners and operators in identifying, assessing and managing cyber risks associated with operational equipment.

• By establishing a proven methodology and process to identify, evaluate and mitigate ICS cybersecurity risks, the overall cyber security and resilience of energy sector organizations’ operational assets will improve.

• The proponent will produce a series of cyber security standards for Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices in the North American electricity sector.

• This project will help Canada play a leadership role in creating globally accepted standards and certification programs and help reduce the risk and severity of cyber threats through IIoT devices.