As Canada steps into 2025, the cybersecurity landscape remains fraught with challenges and threats. Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) across the nation must prioritize strategic projects that not only protect their organizations but also enhance their resilience against cyberattacks.
Greg Sullivan, founding partner of CIOSO Global, emphasizes the urgency of the situation: “It’s not a matter of if you will be breached; it’s the reality of when you will be breached.” To navigate this perilous environment, organizations must focus on risk mitigation through effective planning and proactive measures.
Here are seven critical cybersecurity projects that every Canadian organization should prioritize in 2025:
- Secure AI Deployments and Related Data
Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized various sectors in Canada. To harness its full potential securely, organizations must prioritize the protection of AI solutions and the sensitive data they process. Archana Ramamoorthy, senior director for regulated and trusted cloud at Google Cloud, highlights the need to extend traditional security measures to include data in use. “As businesses increasingly rely on AI for complex tasks, robust security protocols become essential to safeguard data and build trust in these technologies,” she explains.
Organizations should begin by assessing their AI usage, followed by assembling a cross-functional team to develop a comprehensive security strategy that adheres to best practices and secure AI frameworks.
- Adopt Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM)
As businesses increasingly outsource tasks, managing risks from third-party vendors is a pressing concern. Ben Saine, principal consultant at ISG, emphasizes that TPRM is vital for identifying and mitigating risks associated with external partnerships. “A well-implemented TPRM strategy not only enhances your security posture but also ensures compliance with relevant regulations,” he states.
Canadian companies can leverage TPRM to monitor vendor risk in real-time, thereby maintaining operational continuity and reducing downtime caused by external disruptions.
- Safeguard Data Exposed to Third-Party AI Tools
The integration of third-party AI tools into business processes presents both opportunities and risks. Dan Glass, CISO at NTT DATA North America, warns that without robust data security measures, organizations may expose their critical assets to breaches and compliance failures. “Investing in encryption, access controls, and monitoring for these AI workflows is crucial,” he advises. - Strengthen Compliance with a Unified Risk Management Strategy
For CISOs, ensuring compliance is paramount. Michael Fanning, CISO at Splunk, notes that collaboration between CISOs, CIOs, and legal counsel is essential for developing a unified risk management strategy. “Together, we can monitor regulatory shifts and implement necessary changes swiftly,” he asserts. This collaboration will help organizations maintain compliance while also optimizing infrastructure decisions and vendor selections. - Establish Asset Visibility and Strong Cloud Governance
Comprehensive asset visibility remains a significant challenge for many organizations. Jim Broome, CTO at DirectDefense, emphasizes the importance of knowing the location of all assets and ensuring proper management and protection. “Prioritizing asset discovery and inventory management is crucial,” he says.
Canadian organizations should aim for continuous visibility into their digital footprint, which is vital for mitigating risks and maintaining compliance with both national and international regulations.
- Commit to Trust-by-Design Methodologies
As businesses develop AI-powered systems, integrating security from the outset is essential. Vikram Kunchala, Deloitte’s US cyber solutions leader, advocates for trust-by-design principles that embed security into every stage of development. “This proactive approach not only safeguards sensitive data but also enhances the resilience and ethical integrity of AI solutions,” he explains.
Security leaders must engage both security and development teams throughout the entire lifecycle of AI systems to identify vulnerabilities early and implement effective controls.
- Build an Integrated Cyber-Storage Foundation
Organizations should rethink their approach to data storage by creating advanced cyber-storage platforms that incorporate active security features. Aron Brand, CTO at CTERA, suggests utilizing AI-based anomaly detection and implementing immutable backups to protect against tampering. “By reimagining storage in this way, organizations can simplify operations and strengthen their defenses against evolving threats,” he states.
Incorporating cyber-storage not only reduces risk but also ensures that data systems can effectively recover from an attack, making it a critical component of a modern cybersecurity strategy.
As Canadian organizations prepare for the evolving cybersecurity landscape in 2025, these initiatives will help them fortify their defenses, enhance compliance, and ultimately protect their most valuable assets. With cybersecurity being a continuous journey, the focus must remain on proactive measures and innovative solutions to stay ahead of potential threats.
