Liaison / Awareness Program

The Service established its national Liaison/Awareness Program in January 1992. The program seeks to develop an ongoing dialogue with organizations, both public and private, concerning the threat posed to Canadian interests by foreign government involvement in economic espionage. The purpose of the program is to enable CSIS to collect and assess information that will assist it in its investigation of economic espionage activities against Canada. The Service then assesses the threat, and provides advice to government accordingly. We have also recently added the issue of “information security” to our program. This new Liaison/Awareness Program component focuses on the threat Information Operations may pose to Canada’s national information infrastructure (which is largely owned and controlled by the private sector).

The program is voluntary. It provides organizations with a better appreciation of the threat environment, and thus enables them to better protect themselves. Upon request, an Economic and Information Security (EIS) coordinator can provide an organization with formal presentations. CSIS has regional and district offices across the country.

Based on CSIS’ experience in investigating foreign government espionage activities in Canada, the economic espionage presentation includes a review of the most common covert methods used as well as elements that businesses should consider in assessing their own vulnerabilities. As for the information security presentation, it defines and describes this new threat to Canadian organizations and provides examples of recent computer intrusions, demonstrating that this issue is not theoretical but rather a real and present threat to our computer and telecommunication systems. It should be noted that CSIS does not provide a security consulting service, and cannot provide specific advice regarding the steps a company needs to take to protect its proprietary information and technology.

Current Information on the Liaison / Awareness Program

Since its inception in 1992, CSIS’ Liaison/Awareness Program has met with a positive response from the Canadian public and private sectors. As of the end of 1998, the Service had made more than 2000 contacts within Canadian industry and government.

Assessment of the Vulnerability

Companies are in the best position to determine what information or technology is critical to their business. Companies can assess what sensitive information could be targeted and can help determine from whom it must be protected. This principle applies to their operations in Canada as well as business executives’ travels abroad.

The protection of sensitive information and technology is a matter of appropriate physical and personnel security, as well as an education process. The following are some basic measures that, if implemented, can help reduce the vulnerability of companies to economic espionage:

• Appropriate classification, control and protection of sensitive documents;
• Protection of computer databases and network links from unauthorized access;
• Proper storage and disposal of sensitive documents;
• Discussion of sensitive company matters in appropriate locations;
• Realistic controls on employees/visitors access to sensitive facilities, materials, etc., based on the “need to know” principle;
• Sensitivity and caution with the choice of medium used for business communications (i.e. cellular telephones, open fax and telephone lines) and;
• Education and sensitization of all employees to the threat that economic espionage may pose to job security and the organization’s economic well-being. Emphasis on sharing responsibility amongst all employees for adherence to effective security policies and practices.

We would like to talk to you...

CSIS would like to talk to your organization about security concerns. Our Economic and Information Security Coordinators can provide you with a general presentation that outlines the potential threats Canadian businesses face, and investigate any specific concerns you may have, consistent with our mandate.

Benefits to you

By participating in the program, you can benefit by gaining a better appreciation of the risks that may be facing your organization, which will further your ability to protect your sensitive or proprietary information and technology.

To find out more:

If you suspect that your company has been the victim of economic espionage or are interested in receiving our presentation; please contact the nearest CSIS office, and ask for the Economic and Information Security Coordinator:

[Counter-Intelligence][Economic & Information Security]