The Accelerated Investment Incentive25 allows SMEs to benefit from tax incentives for capital investments, including those related to cyber security. „ Procurement Assistance Canada26 is working to simplify the procurement process for small businesses. By reducing barriers and providing Canadian companies with preferred access to government contracting opportunities, the program will help incubate and grow Canadian cyber security businesses. „ To protect our industry, innovative research, and livelihood we need to ensure that cyber security is prioritized. In short, Canadians need access to secure products by default. While Canada has made significant strides in strengthening cyber security, the number of incidents Canada experiences every year continues to grow. In response, the Government of Canada will explore legislation, regulation, and incentives to foster the adoption of secure technologies and practices. We will partner with all levels of government, industry and academia to build leading-edge cyber security into our industry, our day-to day business practices, and our products and services. Our legislation and actions must be well-informed. We will invest in research to build a comprehensive understanding of the economics of cybercrime and cyber security in order to more effectively encourage the adoption of secure technology and combat cyber threat actors. Objective 2.1: Make Canada a Trusted Innovator that Prioritizes Cyber Security Promoting secure-by-design products and the adoption of secure technologies. We all share the responsibility to use and implement cyber-secure products and practices; this burden cannot be placed solely on individual citizens. Canadian businesses of all sizes must embrace a cultural shift that prioritizes secure-by-design products, and a mindset of being “first-to-secure” rather than only being “first-to-market”. Only in this way can the security of the digital ecosystem be improved. The Government of Canada, working with industry, will set out a strategy to facilitate a 25 https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/sole-proprietorships-partnerships/report-businessincome-expenses/claiming-capital-cost-allowance/accelerated-investment-incentive.html 26 https://www.canada.ca/en/public-services-procurement/services/acquisitions/support-for-businesses.html National Cyber Security Strategy 19