Brief: When the federal government delivered its latest Speech from the Throne, many expected clarity on the big issues facing Canadian businesses: ransomware, AI, data residency, cyber insurance, and resilience. What we got instead was silence. For business leaders across law, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing, that silence should be a wake-up call.
“In the words of The West Wing: ‘Decisions are made by those who show up.’ Ottawa didn’t show up for cybersecurity. Canadian businesses need to.”
No Cyber Strategy, No Ransomware Plan
Ransomware is one of the fastest-growing threats to Canadian businesses. Yet the Speech from the Throne didn’t include a single reference to it. There was no mention of a national cyber resilience program, no grant funding for SMB protection, and no plan to mirror what other countries are doing—like the UK’s Cyber Essentials or the EU’s Cyber Solidarity Act.
This leaves Canadian SMBs exposed—and insurers are taking note. Premiums are rising, and coverage is getting harder to secure.
That’s why F12 now provides clients with a Cyber Security Score. It’s an insurance-grade assessment of your security posture, mapped to real-world risks. It helps our clients reduce premiums, qualify for better coverage, and see where they stand—before an incident happens.
AI Is Moving Fast—But Not Here
While global competitors push forward with national AI strategies, Canada’s plan remains unclear. There was a vague reference to using AI for internal government efficiency—but nothing about how Canadian businesses should prepare, adopt, or govern AI use responsibly.
This is a problem. Businesses are already adopting tools like Microsoft Copilot without a strategy. That creates risk—compliance risk, privacy risk, and productivity risk.
At F12, we support clients with safe, secure, and scalable AI adoption. From setting up Microsoft Copilot to establishing controls around AI usage, we help clients avoid the common pitfalls of unmanaged AI deployment—and actually see return on investment.
Data Sovereignty Left Unaddressed
Another issue left hanging: data residency. There was no guidance on where Canadian data should be stored, or how it should be protected from foreign surveillance.
That’s concerning—especially under U.S. laws like the CLOUD Act, which could grant access to your business data if it’s stored on American servers, even if you’re a Canadian company.
That’s why F12 offers a Canadian-sovereign cloud option, ensuring your business-critical data stays within Canadian borders, aligned with PHIPA, PIPEDA, and other local compliance requirements. For law firms, healthcare clinics, and financial advisors, that level of assurance is critical.
Cutting Budgets Isn’t a Cyber Strategy
The Throne Speech made it clear: fiscal restraint is on the horizon. In practical terms, this means many businesses will be pressured to cut spending—including on IT and security.
But pulling back in these areas without a plan can cost far more in the long run.
We’ve seen it happen: one missed patch leads to an intrusion, which turns into hours of downtime and thousands in recovery costs. Instead of trimming blindly, F12 clients use our modular enablements to scale strategically—investing only where there’s real risk or opportunity.
If Government Won’t Lead, Business Must
The core issue here isn’t politics. It’s preparedness.
Canadian businesses can’t afford to wait for clarity from Ottawa on Cyber Security, AI, or data policy. The threats are too immediate, the risks too high.
That’s why our clients choose to act now.
We help SMBs:
- Benchmark their cyber readiness with insurance-powered scoring
- Adopt AI tools like Microsoft Copilot with guardrails in place
- Protect their data with Canada-first hosting
- Stay compliant with evolving privacy laws
- Invest wisely in security, support, and infrastructure
“Hope is not a strategy.” — Vince Lombardi
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Download: 2025 Cyber Resilience Checklist (PDF)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Canada’s current Cyber Security strategy for SMBs?
There isn’t a dedicated one. Federal policy remains high-level, with little support for mid-sized organisations. That’s why private-sector partnerships are essential.
Is data stored on U.S. servers safe for Canadian businesses?
Not necessarily. U.S. laws like the CLOUD Act can override local privacy rules. We recommend Canadian-sovereign cloud solutions for regulated businesses.
Can I reduce my cyber insurance premium?
Yes. Insurers are using cyber scores to set pricing. F12 offers a Coalition-based score to help you reduce costs and improve eligibility.
What makes AI risky for SMBs?
Without governance, AI tools like Copilot can expose sensitive data, create inconsistent outputs, or violate compliance standards. F12 helps you avoid that.
What does F12’s modular model mean?
We offer IT and security services à la carte. That means no bloated bundles, just the right support at the right time—aligned to your actual business needs.
