Cyber as the Tip of the Spear

Because cyberweapons are cheap and accessible tools, it is almost certain that Russia will continue to use them to support an eventual invasion or in efforts to destabilize Ukraine. Stephanie Carvin writes that a history of Russia’s cyber activities, often aimed at bolstering its military efforts or to send a less-than-diplomatic message about its displeasure, is useful for thinking through what could befall Ukraine in the days and weeks ahead.

Artificial intelligence, machine learning and the Internet of Things are fast reshaping every aspect of modern society, including national security. While Canadian planning has historically taken a “wait-and-see” approach, this may not be a strategic option when it comes to these game-changing disruptive technologies. In this latest report from CIGI’s Reimagining a Canadian National Security Strategy series, Daniel Araya and Mai Mavinkurve propose policies that Canada should consider.

As the world continues to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries find themselves dealing with another crisis — a surge in malicious cyber operations. While the overall motivation behind ransomware attacks is greed, attacks that target critical infrastructure are inherently disruptive to states as well. As Stephanie Carvin describes, the relationship between online criminal gangs and authoritarian governments is often one of convenience that serves state ends.

In this op-ed, Neil Desai and Cathy Munroe argue that Canada needs better border strategies to confront emerging threats to Canadian security. Rapid changes in technology and climate mean that Canada’s geography will not grant the same level of protection in the future as it has in the past. Health security will remain the overriding objective of border policy for the foreseeable future but more gradual trends are creating unexpected threats and profoundly reshaping the manner in which Canada’s border is managed.