Home Newsroom 2005 News releases (archive) 2005-02-02: Cyber security initiatives Backgrounder: Cyber security cooperation

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and Microsoft cyber security cooperation

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC) has signed an agreement with Microsoft to cooperate on cyber security, an initiative which supports the Government of Canada’s commitment to strengthen its capacity to predict and prevent cyber attacks, as outlined in the National Security Policy. PSEPC’s role involves providing leadership at both the policy and operational level.

Microsoft’s Security Cooperation Program (SCP) is a global initiative that provides a way for governments and Microsoft to engage in cooperative security activities in the areas of computer incident response, attack mitigation, and citizen outreach. The goal of SCP is to work with governments in addressing threats to national security, economic strength, and public safety more efficiently and effectively through cooperative projects and information sharing.

This Agreement advances the Government of Canada’s evolving relationship with Microsoft Canada as an element of our on-going mutual commitment to enhancing public safety while fully respecting key Canadian values of democracy, human rights and respect for privacy and the rule of law.

PSEPC’s newly-created Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre (CCIRC) serves as the Government of Canada’s focal point for incident response, and will collaborate with Microsoft Canada in actively addressing computer security incidents.

CCIRC and Microsoft Canada will exchange information that can be used to better anticipate, help prevent, respond to and mitigate the effects of IT security attacks and disruptions. Information will be exchanged concerning vulnerabilities and threats.

This initiative is an example of the Government of Canada’s commitment to improving the safety and security of Canadians through innovative public/private sector partnerships.

Further information on the SCP is also available on the Microsoft Web site at www.microsoft.com/presspass.