ARTICLE · 17 APRIL 2026

Canada Just Made CPCSC Mandatory. Your Next Defence Contract Depends On It

SAV Associates

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On April 14, 2026, the Government of Canada formally introduced Level 1 of the Canadian Program for Cyber Security Certification. Level 1 will be required in select defence contracts beginning in Summer 2026. To become certified, suppliers must complete and attest to meeting all Level 1 criteria. That's not a distant deadline. For companies that haven't started preparing, it's closer than it looks

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Level 1 certification landed in select defence contracts yesterday. Here's what that means for your business and what you need to do before summer.

On April 14, 2026, the Government of Canada formally introduced Level 1 of the Canadian Program for Cyber Security Certification. Level 1 will be required in select defence contracts beginning in Summer 2026. To become certified, suppliers must complete and attest to meeting all Level 1 criteria. That's not a distant deadline. For companies that haven't started preparing, it's closer than it looks.

CPCSC has been years in the making, but it's now operational. Here's what it is, why it matters, and what defence suppliers need to do before the window closes.

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