Cybersecurity and Data Protection in Compliance with Quebec's Act 25
According to KPMG Canada (2024), 72% of Canadian SME executives report having experienced a cyberattack in the past year. This is not because SMEs are more attractive targets than large companies, but because they are less well-protected.
Three factors make Quebec SMEs particularly vulnerable in terms of cybersecurity
No IT resources dedicated to security and monitoring.
Most small and medium-sized businesses with fewer than 50 employees manage their IT security reactively, rather than proactively. Updates are delayed, access permissions are not reviewed, and employees are not trained.
Email is the number one attack vector.
More than 90% of cyberattacks begin with an email. Phishing and business email compromise (BEC) attacks don’t need to compromise your network—they trick your employees.
Bill 25 imposes legal obligations that few small and medium-sized businesses are currently complying with.
Since September 2024, all companies that collect data on Quebec residents are subject to Bill 25. Fines can reach up to 25 million dollars or 4% of global revenue.
Our Cybersecurity Services for SMEs in Quebec
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Endpoint Protection with Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
Traditional antivirus software blocks known threats. EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) monitors the behavior of each endpoint in real time and detects unknown attacks before they spread. It is the industry standard for high-risk environments.
We deploy and manage an EDR solution across all your devices, with integrated active monitoring and incident response.
Email and Microsoft 365 Security
Microsoft 365 is the most frequently targeted environment in the enterprise. The default configuration is not enough to block advanced attacks. We secure your environment with additional layers of protection, without affecting your productivity.
Ransomware Protection and Secure, Immutable Backups
Ransomware encrypts your data and demands a ransom to recover it. The only reliable defense is a recent backup stored in an environment inaccessible to the attacker. Immutable backups cannot be encrypted or deleted, even if your primary network is compromised.
Cybersecurity Audit and Vulnerability Assessment for Your Business
Before implementing protective measures, you need to know what’s at risk. A security audit identifies weaknesses in your infrastructure: unsecured access points, outdated software, risky configurations, and inadequately protected sensitive data.
We provide a clear report, with risks prioritized, and a concrete action plan—not an 80-page technical document that no one will read.
Cybersecurity Training and Awareness for Employees
Your employees are both your first line of defense and your greatest vulnerability. A single click on a phishing link can compromise your entire network. Training is not a luxury—it’s the least expensive and most effective security measure.
We offer training sessions tailored to your teams’ skill levels, free of jargon, and featuring examples drawn from real-life situations.
Packages tailored to your business and its infrastructure!
Eosium protects your infrastructure, your data, and your reputation through concrete measures tailored to the size of your business.
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Conformité à la Loi 25 du Québec : obligations et mise en conformité
What Law 25 Specifically Requires of Your Business
Bill 25 (An Act to Modernize Legislative Provisions Concerning the Protection of Personal Information) applies to any business that collects, uses, or discloses personal information about Quebec residents, regardless of its size. It has been fully in effect since September 22, 2024.
Here is what it specifically requires:
- Appoint a privacy officer and publish their contact information on your website
- Document your practices: what data you collect, why, how long you retain it, and with whom you share it
- Obtain clear and distinct consent before collecting data for marketing purposes or for sharing with third parties
- Conduct a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) before launching a project that involves personal information
- Report any privacy incident to the Commission d’accès à l’information (CAI) and to the individuals concerned if the risk is serious
- Allow any individual who requests it to access, correct, and transfer their data
Fines for non-compliance can reach up to 25 million dollars or 4% of global revenue, depending on the severity of the violation.
What Eosium Is Doing to Ensure Your Compliance with Law 25
Compliance with Act 25 is not just a legal matter: it relies heavily on technical and organizational measures that your IT service provider must implement.
What’s required for compliance with Act 25:
- Inventory of personal information stored in your systems
- Mapping of data flows: who accesses the data, from where, and for what purpose
- Implementation or revision of your privacy policy
- Configuration of access rights based on the principle of least privilege
- Documented procedure for managing privacy incidents
- Appointment of a Bill 25 officer
- Assistance with drafting or updating consent notices
Let's assess your current level of protection
Talk to a cybersecurity expert to assess your infrastructure: what's in place, what's missing, and what needs to be prioritized.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cybersecurity for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses and Compliance with Law 25
Is my company really at risk of a cyberattack?
Yes. Small and medium-sized businesses account for about 20% of cyberattack victims in Canada. Attackers automate their search for vulnerable targets: your size doesn’t protect you—it makes you an easier target. The legal, medical, accounting, and manufacturing sectors are particularly targeted because of the sensitive data they handle.
Does Law 25 apply to my small business?
Bill 25 applies to any organization that collects personal information about Quebec residents, regardless of its size. Having even a single employee or a single client in Quebec is sufficient to be subject to the law. Businesses that conduct business in Quebec from another province or country are also affected.
What is the difference between Bill 25 and the European GDPR?
Both laws are aimed at protecting personal data, but Bill 25 is specific to Quebec and applies to companies that process data belonging to Quebec residents. They share several principles (consent, right of access, incident notification), but their specific requirements and oversight bodies differ. If your company has customers in Europe, you may be subject to both laws.
My company already has antivirus software. Is that enough?
No. Traditional antivirus software blocks known threats using a signature database. Today’s attacks use unknown techniques (zero-day), hijacked legitimate code, or human manipulation (phishing). EDR, email protection, immutable backups, and employee training constitute the minimum security layers for a business in 2026.
What should I do if I detect a data breach at my company?
Under Act 25, you are required to document the incident, assess the risk to the individuals involved, and notify the Commission d'accès à l'information (CAI) if the risk is deemed serious. You must also notify the individuals whose data has been compromised. These steps must be taken as soon as possible.
Can Eosium serve as the official data protection officer for my company?
Yes. As part of certain service offerings, Eosium may be formally designated as the entity responsible for protecting your organization’s personal information, as required by Bill 25. This mandate generally includes documenting practices, managing access requests, and providing support in the event of an incident.