Strengthening Canada's Cybersecurity Ecosystem: CCN and eChannelNEWS Unite

Bridging Cybersecurity and IT Channels in Canada

In an era where cybersecurity is critical for businesses and governments alike, a new collaboration aims to bring together key players in this field. The Canadian Cybersecurity Network (CCN) and eChannelNEWS/ChannelNEXT have announced a partnership focused on strengthening collaboration across Canada’s cybersecurity landscape. With an impressive reach and expertise, this merger promises to connect cybersecurity professionals with Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) and Managed Service Providers (MSPs), creating a thriving ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders.

The Need for Collaboration

For too long, the Canadian cybersecurity community has operated in silos, with organizations managing their efforts independently without shared insights and strategies. Acknowledging this gap, Francois Guay, the Founder of CCN, emphasizes that this collaboration is long overdue. By combining CCN’s extensive membership of over 45,000 professionals across various sectors—business, education, and government—with eChannelNEWS' network of more than 110,000 channel partners, the partnership aims to foster a more resilient cybersecurity environment.

Julian Lee, President of ChannelNEXT/eChannelNEWS, echoed these sentiments, stating, "We cannot operate in silos anymore. Sharing is not just caring; it’s about mutual survivability." This recognition of the importance of interconnectedness is pivotal as cybersecurity threats become increasingly sophisticated, impacting organizations of all sizes across Canada.

Objectives of the Partnership

The partnership between CCN and eChannelNEWS/ChannelNEXT is set to roll out several initiatives. Key goals include:

1. Joint Initiatives and Events: The two organizations plan to host events designed to bring leaders from both cybersecurity and the IT channel together, fostering dialogue and knowledge sharing.

2. National Insights and Recognition: They aim to provide MSSPs and cybersecurity vendors with national insights and recognition, helping them to navigate the complex market landscape better.

3. Building Go-to-Market Strategies: The collaboration will assist vendors in developing channel-ready strategies tailored to Canada’s evolving cybersecurity needs.

Empowering the Cybersecurity Community

By focusing on empowering the cybersecurity community, the partnership seeks to build awareness and increase accessibility to valuable resources. This aligns with CCN's commitment to growing cybersecurity talent across Canada, while eChannelNEWS promotes media and channel enablement to technology vendors. Together, they believe they can connect innovation to actionable solutions more efficiently than ever.

A Vision for the Future

Both Francois Guay and Julian Lee recognize this collaboration as a momentous step towards a more integrated and resilient technology ecosystem in Canada. With a shared vision of enhancing cybersecurity collaboration, this partnership serves not only to protect businesses and individuals but also to promote a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the IT community.

In conclusion, the union of the Canadian Cybersecurity Network and eChannelNEWS/ChannelNEXT marks the beginning of a new chapter for cybersecurity in Canada. As stakeholders come together, this initiative promises to elevate the nation’s capabilities, ensuring a safer and more secure digital future.