Canada’s Oil and Gas Sector Faces Rising Cybersecurity Threats Amid Digital Transformation

Canada’s oil and gas sector, a vital part of its economy, contributes approximately $120 billion, or about 5% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This industry not only drives economic growth but also supports essential services such as heating, transportation, and electricity generation, playing a crucial role in national security. However, the increasing digital transformation of Operational Technology (OT) within this sector has made it more vulnerable to cyber threats, according to a report by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security.

A survey conducted by Statistics Canada revealed that around 25% of all Canadian oil and gas organizations reported experiencing a cyber incident in 2019. This is the highest rate of reported incidents among all critical infrastructure sectors, highlighting the urgent need for improved cybersecurity measures in Canada. While the digital transformation of OT systems enhances management and productivity, it also expands the attack surface for cyber actors, exposing these systems to various cyber threats.

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security’s report indicates that medium- to high-sophistication cyber threat actors are increasingly targeting organizations indirectly through their supply chains. This tactic enables attackers to gain valuable intellectual property and information about the target organization’s networks and OT systems. The reliance of large industrial asset operators on a diverse supply chain—including laboratories, manufacturers, vendors, and service p

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