A woman cybersecurity leader's guide to owning your digital identity

As a woman in cybersecurity, I've learned that owning your digital identity isn't about living in fear, it's about taking control. In my role as Director of TELUS Online Security, I see a startling reality every day: online fraud has already affected more than four in five Canadians¹, leading to losses of over $544 million last year². This isn't someone else's problem - it's ours to solve.

Here's what I've learned about taking ownership of our digital lives in an increasingly connected world.

Understanding the landscape

Every digital transaction is an exchange: convenience for data. Consider how many accounts you've created and purchases you've made online. Each time, you've shared contact details, passwords and credit card numbers. The question isn't whether to participate in the digital economy - Canadians spend over six hours daily online³ for entertainment, work, and education - but how to do so safely.

The reality is that it only takes one breach for your data to be exposed. Even sophisticated brands fall victim to criminals seeking customer and employee data. In the wrong hands, your information becomes a weapon used to access accounts or steal your identity.

Here's what I want you to know: when you protect your digital identity, you're not just protecting yourself - you're protecting your family, your colleagues, your community. Your security practices create a ripple effect. When you spot a phishing email and report it, you protect others in your network. When you use strong passwords and two-factor authentication, you reduce the attack surface that criminals exploit. When you demand better from employers and businesses, you raise the bar for everyone.

What to demand from your employer

I've noticed a gap between what employees need and what employers provide. Nearly nine in ten Canadian workers want identity theft protection as part of their workplace benefits⁴ - yet fewer than one in ten employers offer it. With work-life boundaries blurring and nearly three-quarters of Canadians using personal devices for work⁴, your digital safety directly impacts your employer's security. 

So why the disconnect? Many employers don't see it as their responsibility. They're more than twice as likely to blame employee actions than company policies for cybersecurity risks⁴. Eight in ten cite insufficient employee knowledge as the greatest threat⁴. They acknowledge cyber safety's importance but won't invest without pressure.

Here's my advice: Just as you wouldn't accept a job without healthcare benefits or vacation time, start treating cybersecurity as non-negotiable. Your digital identity, when compromised, can affect the three pillars of your health and wellbeing: mental, physical, and financial. 

Ask your HR representative or manager, one simple question: "Why doesn't our company offer cybersecurity benefits?" Breach remediation timelines are unpredictable, ranging from days to months, with some cases extending beyond a year. The recovery process massively impacts work productivity because most remediation efforts occur during business hours. Without professional assistance, individuals navigate the system alone, contacting organizations and defending their identity while facing potential financial consequences.

As women in the workplace, we're often expected to advocate for ourselves, and this situation is no exception - making the case for breach remediation support benefits both individuals and organizations alike.

What to demand from businesses

Canadian businesses are losing $6.98 million on average to data breaches, with the repercussions extending to consumers⁵. If you've felt anxious reading breach notifications, you're not alone. Preparation and response is what separates companies that earn loyalty from those that lose it when experiencing a breach.

What you should expect: Companies must be proactive, not reactive. They should have thorough response plans that evolve with emerging threats. When breaches occur, businesses should immediately notify affected customers, explain actions being taken, and provide cybersecurity tools to minimize consequences.

Here's the empowering part: over three-quarters of Canadians accept that breaches happen and can be managed⁶. Brands are growing more aware that it's how they respond that matters, with three in four Canadians acknowledging they would maintain or increase their use of a brand after a well-handled breach⁶. 

Use your power as a consumer and support companies that prioritize your data security. When breaches occur, evaluate the response. Did they notify you promptly? Offer protection services? Take responsibility? Vote with your wallet and your voice. 

How to protect yourself

"It won't happen to me; I'm not rich or famous." I've heard this countless times, and debunking it has become my mission. Canada ranks second in the world for countries most affected by ransomware attacks, with cybercrime hitting an all-time high globally in the first half of this year⁶.

You don't need to be wealthy or famous to be targeted. You just need data - and we all have that.

While 86 percent of Canadians are concerned about cybersecurity⁴, fewer than one-third use fraud-detection services or VPNs on public Wi-Fi. Now that we are aware of the stats and sources available to us, we need to take ownership to combat the problem.

Your action plan:

• Get informed: Understand common threats like phishing emails, weak passwords, unsecured networks, data breaches. 
• Start conversations: Discuss cybercrime with family and friends as openly as you would any other danger. 
• Invest in protection: Subscribe to services that help prevent, detect, and recover from threats. Tools like TELUS Online Security, VPNs, and password managers aren't luxuries - they're essentials.
• Practise good hygiene: Use unique passwords for each account, enable two-factor authentication, monitor your accounts regularly and think before clicking links.

Owning your future

As a woman leader in cybersecurity, I've learned that our greatest strength is collective action. When you gain protection, your family gains it too. When your company invests in security, it gains employee loyalty and reduced risk. When businesses respond well to breaches, they gain customer trust. When we all raise our standards, we all benefit.

Cybercrime continues to evolve, and we must evolve alongside it. The internet doesn't have to be dangerous if we work together. We have the power to shape cybersecurity's future - through informed choices, vocal advocacy, and unwavering commitment to protecting what's ours.

Your digital identity is yours to own. Claim it