Indeed, cyber threats have the attention of the Canadian armed forces. In the larger sense, of course, it falls under Public Safety, but we are partners in this as we address it. Much of what we call our weapons system is based on an infrastructure of information technology, and what we're finding is that if not increasingly vulnerable, it's certainly under increasing attack from external agents and parties.
It does have our attention. However, I think all of our allies are coming to a realization that we're behind the game and we need to catch up. Two years ago, the Canadian armed forces opened up a new position called the director general of cyber operations, and Brigadier-General Greg Loos is holding down that role now. He is in constant and very constructive talks with General Alexander, who leads cyber command in the States. From my experience at NORAD, it was my sense that they were probably five or six years ahead of us on this.
Everyone is trying to get a grip on just exactly what the threats are and what our laws allow us to do. You will be aware that there is a cyber policy now in place that will help guide the way ahead, not only for Public Safety and all departments, but for the Department of National Defence as well. I think we can be heartened by the fact that our most secure systems have been well protected against cyber attack.
However, no system is perfectly defended against all attacks, and those attacks can be either cyber or even the man in the loop—the person in the loop. All of that speaks to cyber security, and this is something we're becoming more and more seized of, along with our like-minded allies.