August 16, 2025 Canada is staring down an unprecedented wave of cyber threats. In the first half of 2025, over 12 billion attack attempts were tracked targeting Canadian networks—an alarmingly high volume that’s stretching cybersecurity teams to their limits.
Behind the data is Fortinet, one of the world’s largest cybersecurity firms. At their Burnaby, B.C. campus—a global operations hub—security analysts are working around the clock to defend against the flood.
What’s driving the surge? Fortinet’s chief security strategist, Derek Manky, points to the rise of “crime‑as‑a‑service”—a model where hackers buy ready‑made attack kits, instead of crafting tools from scratch. That means cyberattacks are becoming faster and more automated.
Manufacturing has emerged as the top target so far, with healthcare and critical infrastructure close behind—highlighting that no sector is safe. Fortinet also emphasizes that **artificial intelligence** tools are now essential, helping analysts triage threats, automate responses, and prevent burnout.
This isn’t a distant or abstract threat—it’s a real challenge unfolding at home and now. Canadian organizations are facing a cybersecurity crisis by sheer volume, not just sophistication. The sheer scale means even minor vulnerabilities could be exploited thousands of times over if left unaddressed.
