Program directory · National Defence
Ready Cyber and Joint Communication and Information Systems (JCIS) Forces
- Department
- National Defence
- Program code
- BUO06 (ND)
- Core responsibility
- Ready Forces
- In Departmental Plans
- 2018-19 – 2026-27 · New since an earlier plan
What it does
The Ready Cyber and Joint Communications and Information Systems (JCIS) Forces program prepares and sustains combat effective Cyber forces and JCIS that are able to respond to a spectrum of tasks, as may be directed by the Government, within the required response time.
Source: the department's Program Inventory, via GC InfoBase.
History and lineage
First appears in GC InfoBase's actual spending by program in 2018-19. The data does not record when a program was created; it may be older than its first appearance here, which is limited by the sources (program spending starts in 2010-11, Departmental Plans in 2018-19).
| Program | Relation | Years with data | Actual spending over those years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ready Cyber and Joint Communication and Information Systems (JCIS) Forces | This program | 2018-19 – 2028-29 | $1.06B |
No earlier or later program in the same department has a similar name.
Significant changes in scope and budget
Detected from the data: renames between plans, programs it appears to replace, merge with or split into (matched by name), year-over-year changes in spending of at least 25% and $5M, or in employees of at least 20% and 25 FTEs, linked budget measures, and results indicators added or dropped.
| Year | What changed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | Employees (FTEs) 785, against 602 in 2018-19 (+30%). | FTEs (GC InfoBase) |
| 2019-20 | Spending $127M, against $88.4M in 2018-19 (+43%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2020-21 | Indicators added: % of time Joint Communication and Information System (JCIS) elements were ready to meet Force Posture & Readiness requirements | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2020-21 | Indicators dropped: % of time Cyber elements were ready to meet Force Posture & Readiness requirements | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2020-21 | Renamed from “Ready Cyber Forces” to “Ready Cyber and Joint Communication Information Systems (CIS) Forces”. | GC InfoBase program names by year |
| 2023-24 | Spending $185M, against $132M in 2022-23 (+40%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2024-25 | Spending $267M, against $185M in 2023-24 (+44%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2025-26 | Planned spending $147M, against $267M in 2024-25 (−45%). | Latest Departmental Plan |
| 2026-27 | Renamed from “Ready Cyber and Joint Communication Information Systems (CIS) Forces” to “Ready Cyber and Joint Communication and Information Systems (JCIS) Forces”. | GC InfoBase program names by year |
Success criteria
The program's indicators from its department's Departmental Results Framework: the target set in each year's plan, and the result reported the following year. Source: GC InfoBase.
Historical: targets against results
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | 85% – 100% | 2021 | 100% | Met |
| 2021-22 | 85% – 100% | 2022 | 67.5% The percentage of cyber operations positions in Canadian Forces Network Operations Centre cyber force elements, as identified in Force Posture & Readiness, that are filled with fully-trained personnel has been assessed to be 67.5% for FY 2021-22. Many are undergoing training to be become fully-trained. | Not met |
| 2022-23 | 85% – 100% | 2023 | 83% The target was set ambitiously high, informed by national and global conditions that have changed significantly in the 2-yr interim. FY 22-23 saw a significant increase in operational tempo, at home and worldwide, at a time when the CAF was short over 20,000 personnel. The CAF Cyber Force, supported by Joint CIS elements, was fully employed delivering cyber effects in support of multiple GoC stra… | Not met |
| 2023-24 | 85% – 100% | 2024 | 77% In FY 2023-24, cyber and joint communication information system elements fell short of their FP&R targets due to a shortage of trained and qualified personnel. This shortage was primarily attributed to delays in technical qualification training and extended security clearance processing times, which collectively diminished the number of days these elements could sustain the required readiness lev… | Not met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ 85% | 2025 | 60% The target was not met due to personnel shortages. Growth is planned across force elements with a focus on staffing and capability development. Results fluctuated between 60-100% during the year. Measurement using the SMART tool may not fully reflect actual force readiness and will be reviewed as CAF Cyber Command matures. During the 2024–25 reporting cycle, the target date for achieving this per… | Not met |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 100% | 2019 | 55% The established targets are ambitious. Development of this program is in the initial stages with expected completion in 2024 to include personnel force development capability which will lead to increased results in future years. As well, there are significant development efforts to further build Ready Cyber Forces in the coming years to meet the target end-state. | Not met |
| 2019-20 | 85% – 100% | 2020 | 65% A modest increase in manning levels resulted in a slight elevation of the % of time Cyber elements were at the required readiness. However, the major limiting factor for Force Elements (FElms) remains personnel numbers and force development of additional Cyber Force capability. Ongoing efforts to create and fill the necessary positions within our FElms will lead to increased results in future yea… | Not met |
Current: the 2026-27 plan's targets
No indicators in the 2026-27 plan.
Future goals: targets due after 2026-27
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 85% | 2030 | — | Planned |
Spending and employees: planned against actual
Spending
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | $70.5M | $88.4M |
| 2019-20 | $76.1M | $127M |
| 2020-21 | $121M | $143M |
| 2021-22 | $101M | $115M |
| 2022-23 | $117M | $132M |
| 2023-24 | $135M | $185M |
| 2024-25 | $154M | $267M |
| 2025-26 | $147M | — |
| 2026-27 | $180M | — |
| 2027-28 | $183M* | — |
| 2028-29 | $187M* | — |
Employees (FTEs)
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 641 | 602 |
| 2019-20 | 769 | 785 |
| 2020-21 | 1,946 | 754 |
| 2021-22 | 832 | 765 |
| 2022-23 | 779 | 806 |
| 2023-24 | 785 | 793 |
| 2024-25 | 797 | 777 |
| 2025-26 | 789 | — |
| 2026-27 | 856 | — |
| 2027-28 | 872* | — |
| 2028-29 | 885* | — |
Planned spending, plan by plan
Each row is one year's Departmental Plan and its forecast for the next three fiscal years; read a column down to see how the forecast for one year changed. The last row is what was actually spent. Click an amount for its source. Biggest changes in federal spending plans
| Plan | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 plan | $70,544,767 | $71,097,597 | $71,663,501 | ||||||||
| 2019-20 plan | $76,108,530 | $77,276,650 | $79,272,882 | ||||||||
| 2020-21 plan | $120,791,135 | $120,158,922 | $122,464,198 | ||||||||
| 2021-22 plan | $100,534,128 | $100,300,090 | $102,095,627 | ||||||||
| 2022-23 plan | $117,148,199 | $115,812,598 | $116,499,471 | ||||||||
| 2023-24 plan | $134,827,531 | $132,979,875 | $134,870,851 | ||||||||
| 2024-25 plan | $154,482,847 | $140,707,793 | $140,994,659 | ||||||||
| 2025-26 plan | $147,359,602 | $147,795,071 | $149,580,744 | ||||||||
| 2026-27 plan | $180,106,609 | $182,942,904 | $186,574,654 | ||||||||
| Actual | $88,426,116 | $126,512,231 | $143,496,665 | $115,231,158 | $132,438,073 | $185,261,741 | $266,834,144 |
Actual spending is from Departmental Results Reports and the Public Accounts, as published in GC InfoBase. FTEs are full-time equivalents.
