Connectivity services

Shared Services Canada (SSC) provides the network infrastructure services that ensure government organizations have reliable connectivity for delivering services to Canadians. To meet the current and future demands of a digital government, SSC continuously improves the way it delivers Internet, building connectivity, satellite services and more.

Site connectivity

Provides connections between GC user locations and the GC core infrastructure, nationally and internationally. It includes secure remote access, wide area networks and work on the GC Backbone.

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  Secure remote access

  Infrastructure and services that enable GC users to connect to government networks from outside a government location (such as working from home).

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  GC WAN (wide area network)

  Connectivity services to connect government buildings with data centres, the cloud and the Internet. SSC analyzes departmental needs to determine how to best provide WAN—through the GC WAN managed services contracts, directly to the GC Backbone, through LIAS (Local Internet Access Service), satellite connectivity or cellular connectivity.

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  GC Backbone

  Core of the GC WAN connectivity service, this SSC-owned and managed high-speed network connects in-building networks, departmental networks, Government of Canada data centres, the cloud and the Internet.

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  GC Science Network (GCSN)

  Dedicated network within the GC Backbone that federal science departments and agencies use to connect to CANARIE, the backbone network for Canada’s national research and education organizations.

Intra-site connectivity

Provides wired and/or wireless connections for users and devices to a local network inside a GC building or data centre. It Includes in-building networks and foundational services and network monitoring tools.

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  In-building networks

  Connectivity services for government buildings and other places of work for GC users. These services include all local area networks (LAN), whether wired or wireless.

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  Foundational services and network monitoring

  Network foundational services ensure GC devices work correctly and seamlessly with websites and other devices around the world, all within seconds, and are essential to federal public servants and to all Canadians so they can find, use and share information on GC networks and websites.

Peripheral networks connectivity

Provides a connection for GC users to the public Internet with full security features, including advanced threat detection, enterprise firewall policies, and intrusion and malware detection and prevention.

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  Enterprise Internet connectivity

  SSC-dedicated high-speed connections between the GC Backbone and the Internet. Enterprise Perimeter Security firewalls protect the data that flows to and from the Internet.

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  Cloud connectivity

  Highly secure and closely monitored connections between the GC Backbone and the cloud providers.