November 30, 2025
A comprehensive guide to Canada’s leading cybersecurity companies across pentesting, MDR, IAM, IR, and compliance.
Mohammed Khalil
Canada’s cyber threat landscape is intensifying. Organizations face sophisticated ransomware, supply chain and phishing attacks, and increasingly disruptive incidents. Meanwhile, regulators are tightening requirements. Federal laws like PIPEDA and the upcoming Bill C 26 Critical Cyber Systems Protection Act mandate strong data safeguards and incident reporting. For example, non compliance under Bill C 26 can trigger fines up to C$15M.
At the same time, Canadian firms often need to keep sensitive data onshore to satisfy privacy laws and customer expectations. Data residency storing data in Canada helps simplify PIPEDA compliance and avoid foreign jurisdiction risks. For these reasons, partnering with Canada based cybersecurity firms with local support and knowledge of domestic regulations is increasingly important.
DeepStrike Canada Pentesting: DeepStrike is a Canadian pentesting specialist known for manual, red team style tests. It simulates real world attacks to uncover hidden vulnerabilities focusing on network, cloud, application and human factors rather than just automated scans. DeepStrike’s highly experienced testers use real attack techniques, helping clients meet standards like SOC 2 and ISO 27001. These services align with Why penetration testing matters by proactively finding risks before adversaries do. DeepStrike’s Penetration Testing Services are ideal for organizations needing deep, custom security assessments.
Vumetric Quebec City, QC Penetration Testing & Audits. Specializes in regulatory and technical audits healthcare, finance, tech to validate security controls.
T-Rex Solutions Vancouver, BC Vulnerability assessments & pentesting. Provides offensive tests and remediation guidance to fix weaknesses before attackers exploit them.
eSentire Waterloo, ON Canada’s MDR pioneer. eSentire offers 24/7 threat monitoring and active response via its Atlas XDR platform. It blends human experts with AI analytics to detect and contain breaches within minutes. Financial, healthcare and legal firms trust eSentire for around the clock protection one source cites median containment under 15 minutes. Pricing is typically per endpoint hundreds per device per year.
GoSecure Montreal, QC MDR and pentesting. Provides managed security, threat hunting and IR services. It focuses on combating both insider and external threats. GoSecure also offers compliance focused testing and consulting.
Field Effect Ottawa, ON MDR and threat detection for SMBs. Its Covalence platform continuously monitors an organization’s entire ecosystem endpoints, networks, cloud for attacks.
Telus Security Vancouver, BC Telco backed MSSP. Leverages Telus’s national network to offer SOC as a service, DDoS mitigation, managed firewalls and cloud security. Telus’s offerings help clients meet Canadian data residency needs, since they operate all Canadian SOCs. For telecoms: Bell Canada similarly provides large business SOC and DDoS services through Bell Threat Defense.
1Password Toronto, ON Passwords & Access. A Canadian founded password manager used by 165,000+ organizations. It secures logins and secrets API keys, certificates, and enforces multifactor auth. Its strong Canadian identity and global reach make it trusted for data sovereignty and compliance e.g. SOC 2, PCI DSS.
Plurilock Victoria, BC Behavioral Biometrics & MFA. Uses AI to continuously verify user identity based on behavior typing patterns, mouse movement. This ensures that access is being granted to the real user, reducing stolen credential risks. Good for enterprises needing advanced authentication beyond passwords.
Bluink Ottawa, ON Digital ID & Credential Verification. Provides identity assurance solutions e.g. eID and secure credential checks to verify users online. Bluink’s platforms help governments and businesses implement Canada’s digital identity frameworks.
BlackBerry Waterloo, ON Endpoint Protection & IoT Security. BlackBerry, a former smartphone maker, pivoted entirely to cybersecurity. After acquiring AI threat firm Cylance for $1.4B, BlackBerry now offers AI driven endpoint protection, secure messaging and IoT device security. It’s known for strong data encryption and mobile security critical for compliance in regulated industries.
Absolute Software Vancouver, BC Firmware embedded Endpoint Security. Absolute’s Absolute Persistence® is built into PC firmware, enabling organizations to track, freeze or wipe devices even if offline. It provides remote control over laptops/tablets, ensuring data protection on lost or stolen devices.
Cyderes Toronto, ON Managed security & consulting. One of Canada’s largest security firms founded by Robert Herjavec. Offers broad managed services, integration and security consulting to enterprises worldwide. Ideal for organizations needing end to end programs and outsourced SOC operations.
ISA Cybersecurity Toronto, ON Large private advisory firm. Provides security strategy, SOC implementation, and compliance solutions for major Canadian enterprises and governments.
Salt Technologies Toronto, ON DevSecOps & Secure SDLC. Offers consulting on integrating security into software development and cloud operations.
Sekurno Toronto, ON Compliance and Pentesting not listed above. A boutique firm focusing on SOC 2, ISO 27001 audits and pentesting for tech firms. Great for startups/scale ups meeting audit requirements and startup budgets.
Dynamix Solutions Toronto, ON MSP/Security for SMBs. Provides managed IT and security firewalls, endpoints tailored for small medium businesses that need enterprise level tools on a budget.
Edgeworx Solutions Toronto, ON Cloud & Vulnerability Management. Specializes in securing hybrid cloud architectures, managing vulnerabilities and compliance for enterprise clients.
Magnet Forensics Waterloo, ON Digital Forensics Tools. Maker of Magnet AXIOM, a leading platform for collecting and analyzing digital evidence from computers, phones, IoT, cloud. Used by law enforcement and corporate IR teams to investigate breaches and crimes.
CyberClan Vancouver, BC Incident Response & Forensics. Offers 24/7 emergency breach response, root cause analysis and containment, helping organizations recover operations quickly.
SecDev Group Ottawa, ON Threat Intelligence & IR. Combines cybersecurity with geopolitical expertise. Provides strategic threat intel, incident response, and policy consulting, often for government and NGOs.
Beauceron Security Fredericton, NB Security Awareness Platform. Focuses on the human side of security by training employees. It offers phishing simulation campaigns and interactive training to turn staff into a human firewall.
Genetec Montreal, QC Unified Physical & Cyber Security. Known for video surveillance and access control software, Genetec is adding cybersecurity features for city infrastructure and corporate campuses e.g. secure IoT integrations.
Resolver Kroll Toronto, ON Risk & Incident Management. Offers software for enterprise risk intelligence, incident tracking and compliance dashboards. Tracks security incidents and audits across organizations to support governance.
BDATA Solutions Markham, ON Blockchain IoT Security. Applies blockchain and AI to secure critical infrastructure smart city, industrial IoT. Its immutable ledgers and analytics detect tampering in physical systems.
MoogleLabs Toronto, ON AI Cybersecurity. Builds predictive risk assessment and vulnerability detection tools using machine learning and blockchain.
Digis Vancouver, BC Application Security. Conducts in depth audits of software products, helping developers integrate security best practices from the ground up.
Taken together, these homegrown companies cover the full spectrum of cyber defense. For example, DeepStrike focuses on red teaming and custom pentests, eSentire specializes in continuous MDR, 1Password leads in credential security, and Telus brings telecom grade scale to SOC services. Meanwhile, BlackBerry and Absolute secure endpoints and devices, and firms like Herjavec and ISA provide broad consulting. Local firms ensure compliance with Canadian laws PIPEDA, Bill C 26/CCSPA, CyberSecure Canada certification etc by keeping operations and data on Canadian soil. In short, Canadian organizations of all sizes can now find world class security partners at home.
| Factor | In House Security Team | Outsourced Security MSSP/MDR |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | High fixed payroll and infrastructure | Scalable subscription, no large capital investment |
| Expertise | Limited to internal skillsets, training required | Access to specialized experts and tools across domains |
| Coverage | Typically business hours, limited SOC ops | 24/7 monitoring and incident response by professionals |
| Scalability | Hiring/training needed to grow | Easily adds services as business expands |
| Regulatory Support | Must manage PIPEDA, Bill C 26 compliance internally | Vendor often provides regulatory reporting and guidance |
| Data Residency | Fully local control and compliance | Depends on vendor choose Canadian based for data residency |
Begin by assessing your needs: Do you require ongoing monitoring MDR/SOC, one off pentesting, identity solutions, or a mix? Consider factors like industry finance, healthcare, telecom, which have extra regulations, and whether you serve global clients who may expect ISO 27001 certification. Local expertise is crucial: ensure the provider understands PIPEDA requirements Canada’s privacy law and can assist with emerging mandates like Bill C 26’s CCSPA.
Budget also matters. Automated testing platforms like DeepStrike’s AI assisted services offer transparent, predictable pricing for frequent scans, whereas enterprise SOCs e.g. Telus, IBM Canada often use custom contracts. In some cases, a hybrid model works: for example, an SME might use Continuous Penetration Testing platforms for dev teams and outsource 24/7 monitoring to an MSSP. Always check references, ask for case studies, and verify that the vendor’s solutions integrate well with your IT stack. Ultimately, a great partner will help you not only detect threats but also build a mature, compliance ready security program.
Canadian businesses must follow PIPEDA and similar provincial privacy laws for personal data. Upcoming federal rules include Bill C 26 CCSPA which will require critical sector operators to implement cybersecurity programs, incident reporting, and allow government directives for urgent fixes. Many also pursue CyberSecure Canada certification to show they meet national baseline controls see below.
CyberSecure Canada is a federal certification program for SMEs. It requires implementing baseline security controls set by Canada’s Cyber Centre Communication Security Establishment. Passing a CyberSecure audit earns a government backed certification mark, signaling you have automated patching, IR plans, access controls and other safeguards in place.
Bill C 26 enacts the Critical Cyber Systems Protection Act. It targets federally regulated vital sectors finance, telecom, energy, transport and mandates that designated operators have cyber security programs and report incidents. It even empowers the government to issue Cyber Security Directions orders to fix specific cyber issues with penalties for non compliance. In short, critical Canadian companies will soon face strict security and reporting obligations.
Both are security frameworks but serve different needs. SOC 2 is a North American AICPA attestation focused on operational controls around data and availability, popular with cloud/SaaS vendors. It requires ongoing evidence collection Type II for audit. ISO 27001 is an international management standard for an ISMS Information Security Management System. It’s governance and risk focused and often required by global partners. Canadian companies may pursue one or both depending on client demands.
Costs vary by scope. A basic network pentest might start a few thousand dollars, while a full large scale red team can exceed $50,000. Factors include network size, target complexity, and type of test external vs internal. Similarly, SOC 2 audit fees range widely: Type 2 audits in 2025 often cost anywhere from $7k to well over $100k, depending on company size and scope. Canadian providers often package these as part of managed services or professional services contracts.
Pricing models differ. Some MDR providers charge per protected endpoint e.g. eSentire’s starting pricing CAD 69–104 per endpoint per year. Others offer flat monthly SOC service packages or tiered contracts like Telus’s custom packages. Generally, outsourced detection/response can be more cost effective than a fully staffed 24/7 team. You should request quotes from several Canadian MSSPs, as costs depend on coverage SIEM, SOC shifts, incident triage, etc. and your compliance needs.
Working with a local, Canada headquartered vendor ensures data residency and easier compliance with Canadian regulations. These firms have direct knowledge of national standards, CSE guidelines, CyberSecure Canada controls, provincial laws and can offer Canadian based SOC support. It also simplifies legal and jurisdiction issues, and supports the domestic security industry. For example, DeepStrike’s Penetration Testing Services are delivered by experts inside Canada, and Telus provides DDoS and SOC services through all Canadian infrastructure.
Canadian organizations today have a strong lineup of local cybersecurity partners. From DeepStrike’s red team experts to eSentire’s 24/7 MDR, to identity specialists like 1Password, the ecosystem covers every need. These firms not only bring world class security skills, but also deep understanding of Canadian laws PIPEDA, CCSPA and data sovereignty concerns. By partnering with these homegrown leaders, Canadian businesses can strengthen defenses, stay compliant, and focus on growth with confidence.
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About the AuthorMohammed Khalil is a Cybersecurity Architect at DeepStrike, specializing in advanced penetration testing and offensive security operations. With certifications including CISSP, OSCP, and OSWE, he has led numerous red team engagements for Fortune 500 companies, focusing on cloud security, application vulnerabilities, and adversary emulation. His work involves dissecting complex attack chains and developing resilient defense strategies for clients in the finance, healthcare, and technology sectors.
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