The digital threat environment has shifted — and in many ways, Canada is playing catch-up. Whether you run a business, lead a nonprofit, or support a public organization, this conversation matters. Cybersecurity is no longer a niche issue. It’s a strategic one — and increasingly, an existential one.
What’s changed isn’t just the volume of attacks. It’s the pace and sophistication, accelerated by AI, global instability, and deeply interconnected supply chains. Many organizations are trying to keep up. Others are putting their heads in the sand — until it’s too late.
The reality is that this issue now touches everyone.
The encouraging part? Some of the most effective protections are simple, accessible steps that any organization — big or small — can adopt. The challenge is less about technical complexity and more about awareness. It starts with thinking about it, talking about it, and treating cyber risk like any other core leadership or governance priority.
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In this episode of Canada Now, cybersecurity strategist Dominic Vogel brings clarity to a space that often feels overwhelming. He breaks down what’s actually happening — and what leaders should prioritize heading into 2026. This isn’t a technical deep dive. It’s a practical look at decision-making, resilience, and the steps Canadians can take to strengthen their footing in an evolving digital world.
🔑 What You’ll Learn
1. Cyber Risk Has Evolved — So Should Your Leadership
Cyberattacks aren’t just about stolen data anymore. It’s about downtime, ransomware demands, reputational damage, and business collapse — especially for small and mid-size Canadian companies. Trying to treat cyber like a technical issue is no longer enough.
2. The Confidence Gap is Real
Many executives believe they’re “too small to be targeted” — or that “our data isn’t worth anything.” That’s a dangerous miscalculation. As Dominic explains: hackers only need your business to value your data. Disruption can cost far more than the data itself.
3. Cybersecurity is a Leadership & Governance Challenge — Not an IT Checklist
This episode reframes cyber as a core business issue. It’s not about buying the latest tool — it’s about accountability, culture, process, and mindset. If your board or leadership team treats cyber as “some IT thing,” you’re navigating danger blind-folded.
4. Big Returns from Small Moves: What You Can Do Today
You don’t need a million-dollar budget to make a difference. Multi-factor authentication, process mapping, awareness training, and simple governance fixes can drastically improve resilience — and many Canadian orgs still haven’t implemented them.
5. The Storm is Coming: 2025–2026
Between AI-powered attacks, increased automation, evolving supply-chain vulnerabilities, and growing regulatory pressure — the next 12–24 months will be critical. Canadian leaders should treat this as a strategic planning issue, not a “nice to have.”
Cybersecurity is no longer a tech issue — it’s a risk issue. We need business owners and executives to treat it like any other core risk.
🎧 Tune In to the Full Episode
Canada’s Cyber Wake-Up Call: What Every Leader Needs to Know in 2026
🍁 Final Thought — What You Should Do Next
If there’s one thing to take away from this conversation: cybersecurity is no longer optional. For any Canadian leader — small business owner, nonprofit director, or board member — it’s now a governance and risk issue.
Check your basics, ask the hard questions, and ensure that your organization is ready — not just for today’s threats, but for what’s coming.
If you found value here, share this episode with someone who leads a business. Because the wake-up call needs to reach as many ears as possible.
👤 About the Guest
Dominic Vogel leads Vogel Cyber Leadership & Coaching, helping organizations across sectors and sizes harden their defenses while building security-aware leadership practices. He draws on years of hands-on experience executing cyber audits, advising executives, and building security-minded culture — always with a pragmatic, business-first lens.
✏ Episode Show Notes
Hamilton, Ontario Ransomware Attack — 2024 Municipal Cyber Case Study
City had been getting warnings about cyber-security for 15 years (The Bay Observer, October 2025)
Ontario city facing full $18.3M cyberattack bill after insurer denies claim (Global News, July 2025)
Hamilton taxpayers on the hook for full $18.3M cyberattack repair bill after insurance claim denied (CTV News, July 2025)
Insurance won't cover $5M in City of Hamilton claims for cyberattack, citing lack of log-in security (CBC, July 2025)
A real-world example of how cyber insurance decisions, internal controls, and leadership oversight impact Canadian organizations.
🎥 Episode Chapters
(Jump straight to the parts you care about.)
⏰ Timestamps
00:00 – The Wake-Up Call: Why Your Data Is Valuable
02:00 – Welcome to Canada Now + Episode Setup
03:00 – Dom’s 20-Year Cyber Origin Story
04:40 – The Big Shift: Why SMEs Are Now Prime Targets
06:20 – Are Canadian Businesses Taking Cyber Seriously?
07:30 – Cyber Insurance Reality Check (and Denials)
08:50 – “We Just Got Hacked”: Why Most Companies Act Too Late
10:25 – Supply Chain Pressure: When Big Clients Force You to Care
11:30 – Tariffs, Uncertainty & Why Cyber Budgets Get Cut First
12:40 – The One Question Every Leader Should Know the Answer To
13:50 – Cyber as Leadership & Governance (Not IT)
15:00 – Plausible Deniability Is Dead: Legal Liability & Boards
16:40 – What a Modern Cyber Program Actually Looks Like
18:30 – Fractional Cyber Leadership: How It Works + Why It’s Growing
20:10 – Why Every Company Is Now a “Tech Company”
21:00 – What Fractional Executives Really Do (Week to Week)
23:10 – Family Business Fight: Cyber vs “Dad Says It’s a Scam”
25:20 – Succession, Legacy, and Reputation at Risk
26:40 – Practical Cyber for Solopreneurs & Small Business
27:55 – MFA: The Easiest Win You’re Probably Not Using
29:00 – Mapping Your Critical Processes (Most SMEs & SMBs Haven’t)
30:00 – The Truth About Cyber Awareness Training
31:00 – Building Anti-Fragile Systems (Not Blaming Employees)
32:20 – Wire Fraud: The $300K Email Scam & How to Prevent It
33:50 – “We Can’t Afford Cyber” — What You Can Still Do
35:10 – The Tech Illusion: Why Tools Alone Won’t Save You
36:40 – COVID’s Hidden Cyber Fallout on Remote Teams
38:00 – Social Media Account Security: The Overlooked Risk
39:20 – The AI Problem: Staff Copy/Pasting Sensitive Data Into Tools
41:10 – What Leaders Should Be Asking in 2026
42:30 – Where Cyber + AI Is Headed (And Why It’s a Risk)
44:00 – Final Takeaways for Leaders & Small Business Owners
45:10 – Where to Find Dominic + Free Resources
46:00 – Closing Thoughts
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We’re writing the next chapter in Canada — and it starts now. 🍁
If you’re a fan of Canadian innovation and curated Canadian content, check out some of my other favourite newsletters on Beehiiv! 🐝👇
— Ashley Smith (@ashleysmithnow)