More Sophisticated Security Threats Require Improved Information and Intelligence Sharing

Press Release

Ottawa, January 24, 2017—From 9/11 to the more recent attacks in Brussels and Paris, the absence of timely and effective sharing of information between security stakeholders has been repeatedly identified as a shortcoming. A new briefing from The Conference Board of Canada’s Centre for National Security reviews the state of information sharing in Canada and identifies areas for improvement.

“Despite its importance to national security, discussions about how to improve information and intelligence sharing often occur only after the damage is done,” said Satyamoorthy Kabilan, Director, National Security and Strategic Foresight, The Conference Board of Canada. “The timely sharing of information and intelligence enables us to better understand security risks and prevent or disrupt attacks from occurring.”

Highlights

• With a rapidly evolving security threat landscape, Canada must rely on effective sharing channels between the private and public sectors.
• Developing a better understanding of privacy regulations and legislation is important to create and encourage effective sharing guidelines.
• Effective sharing is hindered by several challenges, including bureaucratic red tape, duplication of effort, overlapping mandates, and conflicting objectives.

The briefing, The State of Information and Intelligence Sharing, explores the public-private sector information- and intelligence-sharing relationship and identifies obstacles and challenges. It makes the following six recommendations to help improve information and intelligence sharing in Canada:

• Build on the important role played by local law enforcement in sharing with the private sector;
• Improve the relatively poor sharing connections between domestic intelligence agencies and the private sector;
• Review government security classifications to discourage the unwillingness to share culture among public servants;
• Leverage industry association partnerships to bridge the gap between public and private sectors;
• Develop a better understanding of what government can and cannot share with the private sector;
• Focus on the human aspect of sharing – building personal relationships and establishing trusted voices are critical to developing sharing practices.

“The ability of a country’s security and intelligence community to detect, deter, and defend against a range of security threats will only grow in importance as attacks become increasingly coordinated and attackers exploit technology in innovative ways. Bringing together information from multiple stakeholders enables a better understanding of the security threats,” added Dr. Kabilan.

The Conference Board of Canada’s Centre for National Security (CNS) works to help improve the capacity of Canadian leaders to understand and effectively address national security challenges. The Centre brings together executives from the public and private sectors: executives who have a broad perspective of strategic-level security threats and risks, and whose organizations have a stake in national security, public security and public safety. The CNS team works with participants to produce timely and relevant insights needed to make effective decisions in their areas of responsibility and/or to contribute to public policy-making.

For more information contact

Corporate Communications
613-526-3280
corpcomm@conferenceboard.ca

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