Budget 2016

 

Budget 2016, PDF Version, 290 KB)

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$463 million to stabilize mission-critical information technology systems and to strengthen IT security

Building the Government of Canada’s secure and reliable modernized information technology infrastructure and delivering quality, on-time and important services to government departments and agencies is the mandate for Shared Services Canada (SSC).

Budget 2016 investments allow SSC to improve service delivery by focusing one-time funding on stabilizing mission-critical data centre services and network installations, and supporting ongoing funding for security improvements.

Budget funding of $383.8 million in 2016–17 and 2017–18 for mission-critical systems will be used to:

  • upgrade physical infrastructure in data centres - which includes replacing power and air conditioning units, the life support systems for computers;
  • upgrade bulk print services for high-volume printing, mailings that support Government of Canada revenue collection and disbursement of benefits issued by the Canada Revenue Agency;
  • upgrade departmental computing and storage needed for government-wide IT applications;
  • deliver tools and services to support customer IT needs, including maintenance and support contracts for older systems;
  • upgrade data networks, allowing for reliable and secure communications across government, at home and abroad, and with Canadians;
  • upgrade intra-building networks that give federal employees access to networks and applications;
  • upgrade telecommunications networks and infrastructure, allowing for voice and video-conferencing services at mission-critical locations (e.g. call centres, Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachments, border crossings and federal prisons) and the replacement of older BlackBerry smartphones at all international locations, allowing for more secure communications between Canada and diplomatic missions; and

Budget funding of $79.7 million over five years (2016–17 to 2020–21) and $10.8 million ongoing funding starting 2021–22 will be used to:

  • enhance perimeter security for Government of Canada networks through additional safeguards against cyber-attacks on Internet connections.
  • upgrade enterprise vulnerability and compliance management services to expand the Government’s ability to scan for network weaknesses and monitor compliance with security actions and security patch updates;
  • ensure that administrative user accounts are tracked, monitored and updated and improve administrative access controls to reduce data breaches; and
  • test and create a list of “safe” applications that can be installed on shared IT infrastructure in data centres to ensure that malicious software is not unintentionally installed on Government of Canada enterprise servers.

Governance and management of all Budget 2016 funding for SSC will be guided by three principles:

  • Transparency – Allocation of funding is based on consistent factors and validation by partners and is reported on monthly.
  • Timeliness – IT equipment is procured and installed in time to minimize disruption of mission-critical services and systems.
  • Traceability – Financial controls ensure that all funding is accounted for and used only to replace mission-critical equipment and to put in place maintenance contracts pending the replacement of original equipment.

For further information:
Media Relations
Shared Services Canada
1-855-215-3656


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