Industry Canada Assuring Telecom (Infrastructure and Services) An Operations Perspective
IC Security Roles and Activities Assure Telecom Infrastructure and Services Enhance Telecom Security Expertise and Programs Promote ICT Sector Development
Assure Telecom Infrastructure and Services Operational Perspective To assure telecom availability and integrity for public safety: Partner with private industry and other departments to exchange information and expert advice and to develop mechanisms to assure telecom networks Partner bilaterally with PSEPC, and with our US and UK counterparts to provide the telecom industry with pre-releases of Alerts and Advisories affecting telecommunications Exchange information and expert advice with US and UK Network Security Information Exchanges and Telecom watches
Assuring Telecom Infrastructure and Services Operational Perspective Partner with Industry: Canadian Telecom Cyber Protection Working Group (CTCP) Canadian Telecommunications Emergency Preparedness Association (CTEPA) Develop and maintain new services: Priority Access for Dialing (PAD) Wireless Priority Service (WPS) High Probability of Completion (HPC) Public Alerting and Warning
Canadian Cyber Protection Working Group (CTCP) Joint industry/government Working Group Mission is to cooperate and collaborate on technical and operational safeguards that enhance the cyber security of networks through active defense utilizing Prevention, Detection, Response and Recovery Emphasis on information and network systems Current Industry members are IT Security Managers from 7 Telcos (Aliant, Bell, MTS-Allstream, Telus, Sask Tel, Sprint) Government members are Industry Canada and PSEPC Industry Canada provides the chair and secretariat
CTCP objectives Collaborate through best practices, exercises, and industry-to-industry exchange Understand current level of protection against cyber threats to telecom CI Enhance the overall cyber protection through outreach to other sectors, carriers, ISPs and government Exchange information on attacks, vulnerabilities, exploits, R&D, government intelligence. Liaise with the Canadian Telecommunications Emergency Preparedness Association (CTEPA) on areas of mutual concern and interest
CTCP method of operation Terms of Reference Membership criteria Baseline for Sharing Meeting format: weekly what s-hot teleconferences (1/2 hour) monthly one-hour teleconferences (1 hour) quarterly face-to-face meetings (2 day)
CTCP Status Accomplishments Built trust industry/government Shared timely and pertinent information Developed points of contacts and outreach procedures Undertook work on best practices for Incident Handling, etc. Completed baseline security survey Security clearance procedures for members Linkages with international partners in the CERT, telecom and government communities Next Steps Expand telecom membership wireline and wireless Develop linkages and collaborate with other stakeholders and sectors Develop major event incident handling best practices Develop incident response exercises Advance awareness, outreach, validation, response Additional best practices in new areas
Canadian Telecommunications Emergency Preparedness Association Former Stentor Alliance EP Committee Open to all facilities based wireline, wireless and satellite Canadian Common Carriers telecommunications companies Create a united commitment and vision for telecom emergency preparedness related to a National or Regional disaster Share and exchange information on common national emergency preparedness issues Ability to work in non-competitive harmony during a regional or national disaster Sharing of resources plus access to Federal and US resources Interfaces federally through Industry Canada
Priority Access for Dialing (PAD) List of telephone numbers deemed essential during emergencies List of numbers maintained by Industry Canada Lines are given priority dial tone access should the telephone system be temporarily degraded or overloaded Provided by Telco terminating the subscriber loop Assists with outbound call set-up Does not provide inbound or point-to-point priority
Wireless Priority Service (WPS) Enhancement to basic mobile service Allows equipped mobile instruments to queue for next available service channel Invoked by dialling *272 prior to the destination number Not intended for all emergency personnel Only authorized for key positions Five priority levels Doesn t preempt existing calls or guarantee completion Application submitted via Industry Canada Approved by jurisdiction authority, e.g., Provincial authority for employees under provincial, territorial and municipal jurisdiction
High Probability of Completion (HPC) HPC is a technology Industry Canada is investigating Would complement existing Priority Access for Dialling in times of emergency Intended for extremely stressed networks: When demand exceeds network capacity; and When essential emergency response communications are crucial PAD allows priority dial tone HPC would allow priority call set-up and queuing Remains active during restrictive network management controls No guarantee, but higher probability of completion
Public Alerting & Warning Coordinate a Canada-Wide Public Alerting / Warning System to warn the public of imminent dangers such as tornadoes, dangerous chemical spills and other man-made or natural disasters Established Federal Government Committee Provincial Champions Group Broadcasters Working Group Drafting a Guide to standardize message formats and protocols Conducting a number of field trials including : Radio and Television Broadcasting, Radio Data Service, Telephone based technologies and the Internet
Canada Ensuring a robust and reliable telecommunications infrastructure and a strong ICT sector Fulfilling our Telecommunications and Information Technology responsibilities for the National Security Policy