CPCSC
Canadian Program for Cyber Security Certification
For more information, visit the Government of Canada website.
What is CPCSC?
The Canadian Program for Cyber Security Certification (CPCSC) is a new federal initiative designed to help protect sensitive government information, especially in defence contracts. If your business works with the Government of Canada and handles confidential data (like project files, communications, or technical specs), CPCSC sets the cybersecurity standards you’ll need to follow.
Think of it as Canada’s version of the U.S. Department of Defense’s CMMC program. CPCSC requires companies to meet specific cybersecurity controls based on the NIST SP 800-171 standard. These controls cover everything from access management and incident response to system integrity and risk assessment.
Starting in Winter 2025, CPCSC will become mandatory for select federal contractors, especially those working with the Department of National Defence (DND).
Who Does It Impact?
CPCSC applies to any Canadian business that processes, stores, or transmits Controlled Information (CI) on behalf of the federal government. This includes:
- Defence and aerospace contractors
- IT service providers and managed service firms
- Organizations involved in critical infrastructure or national security
- Subcontractors supporting larger federal bids
If your company touches sensitive government data (even indirectly) you’ll need to demonstrate compliance with CPCSC to continue doing business with federal agencies.
How Valencia Can Help
At Valencia, we understand that navigating CPCSC can feel overwhelming, especially if cybersecurity isn’t your core business. That’s why we’ve built a tailored approach to help organizations not only meet CPCSC requirements but do so efficiently and confidently.
Our goal is to make CPCSC compliance achievable, whether you’re a small business just starting out or a larger organization scaling up your cyber capabilities.