Last week, TELUS released the results of the 2010 TELUS/Rotman Study on Canadian IT Security Practices during a media announcement at TELUS House Toronto.  In its third year, the survey reflects responses from 523 Canadian business owners, managers and executives, nationwide.  Although the event was hosted in Toronto, media and influencers from across the country were able to partake live via webcast.  

Here are a few of the key findings:

 1.  Canadian security breaches rose 29 per cent while breach costs decreased by 78 per cent.  Private and public sectors experienced a minimal increase in security breaches; government reported a significant breach increase of 74 per cent.

 What does this mean?  Increased IT investment has led to greater visibility and earlier detection of these breaches, ultimately lowering clean-up costs.  The study also reveals a growing trend toward sophisticated attacks on high value data such as identity information and credit card numbers. What this says to businesses is that it’s crucial to take a proactive approach in securing data and implementing employee education to maintain security, as we see a continued increase of more intelligent attacks.

 2. This year’s results uncover a misconception:  One in four Canadian organizations are blocking access to social networking sites, citing security as the primary reason. Today, 66 per cent of employees in the government sector have access to social networking in the workplace, as do close to 80 per cent of private and public sector employees. 

 What does this mean? In both cases, organizations that block access to these sites actually bring productivity and security issues upon themselves as employees spend valuable time trying to circumvent the block or surf the sites through their mobile devices.  As technological innovations continue to develop, from social networking to the proliferation of smartphones, there needs to be an increased focus on education and awareness across IT, development and employees to ensure security risks and responsibilities are understood.

But perhaps the most exciting result of these 2010 findings is the interest shown by both business and consumer media. We’re looking forward to next year’s results!

For over ten years, Canadian Tire Jumpstart has helped kids with financial need participate in organized sports and recreation. Now, in the second year of its partnership with the ProAction Hockey League, Jumpstart has equipped 128 kids aged 8-11 with hockey equipment for a full season.

High Road was onsite to help ProAction and Jumpstart kick off the ProAction Hockey League season at the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Martha Billes Hockey Clinic on October 17 in North York.

The event packed the Angela James Arena with smiling parents, players and volunteers as participants took to the ice, some for the first time in their lives. Event media relations resulted in branded and on-message coverage on CTV, CP24 and CityTV, but perhaps the greatest reward from our participation was the smiles on the faces of overjoyed children who, without the help of Jumpstart, ProAction, and Toronto Police officers who coach the league, would not have the opportunity to enjoy hockey.

The High Road event team coordinated with ProAction to produce an event schedule, manage registration, coordinate speeches, tie skates, and conduct media relations for the clinic. At the end of the day, participants and their family members left the arena with new hockey skills and knowledge,  Jumpstart jerseys, Canadian Tire Hockey School hats, coupons for free skate-sharpening,  and their coveted equipment from Canadian Tire ready to be aired out for next time.

This summer we launched a very cool new Smirnoff campaign in Canada: the Nightlife Exchange Project takes 14 countries around the world & swaps nightlife among them on Nov 27, 2010 (www.facebook.com/smirnoffcanada for details). Our kick-off event featured a performance from USS  plus the stunt to end all stunts… a dance floor suspended 50 ft in the air! We worked with an amazing stunt team and crane company so it looked like the dancers were not attached to anything (they were, of course). At the end of the day… great band + cool stunt = excellent coverage + online buzz + happy client, a formula we’re happy to stick to.