Strengthening cybersecurity together
What is the SFU Cyber Clinic?
The SFU Cybersecurity Clinic, the first-of-its-kind in Western Canada, connects nonprofit organizations with students to support practical, real-world cybersecurity needs while providing applied learning opportunities.
Through a supervised, course-based model, student teams work with partner organizations to better understand their current cybersecurity practices and identify ways to strengthen their digital resilience. The goal is to support organizations in levelling up their digital resilience while contributing to broader awareness and resilience across our community.
Why does it matter?
Cybersecurity is an increasing concern for organizations of all sizes - nonprofits face the unique challenge of faceing cybersecurity threats without the dedicated resources and infrastructure required to build a robust security system.
Did you know:
- In 2024, more than 23,000 cyber-related crimes were reported in British Columbia alone, accounting for approximately 28% of all cybercrime reported in Canada
- 1 in 6 cybersecurity roles in Canada remain unfilled, contributing to ongoing vulnerabilities
- 58% of organizations attribute security breaches to a lack of skills or training
- Eighteen percent of nonprofits reported experiencing a cybersecurity incident in 2021. The average total cost to recover from cybersecurity incidents was $19K (Imagine Canada)
- 36% of nonprofits have no employees with regular tasks related to cybersecurity
Many nonprofit organizations are managing growing digital responsibilities without dedicated cybersecurity expertise or resources. At the same time, there is a need to expand opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in cybersecurity, particularly in interdisciplinary settings.