Why Public-Private Cooperation is Crucial in the Evolved Cyber Threat Environment

Why Public-Private Cooperation is Crucial in the Evolved Cyber Threat Environment

Author: Canadian Government Executive November 13, 2023 Duration: 21:48

Host, J. Richard Jones welcomes Marc Asturias, VP of Marketing & Government, Latin America and Canada, Fortinet, to the show. They hit the ground running on the importance of promoting public-private cooperation on cybersecurity issues.

Fortinet secures the largest enterprise, service provider, and government organizations around the world. Fortinet empowers its customers with intelligent, seamless protection across the expanding attack surface and the power to take on ever-increasing performance requirements of the borderless network—today and into the future. Only the Fortinet Security Fabric architecture can deliver security without compromise to address the most critical security challenges, whether in networked, application, cloud, or mobile environments. Fortinet ranks number one in the most security appliances shipped worldwide and more than 500,000 customers trust Fortinet to protect their businesses.

Mr. Asturias is a veteran of the technology industry, Marc Asturias serves as Vice President of Marketing and Government Vertical for Fortinet. He also oversees the company's market development for the public sector, bringing into this role more than two decades of business experience. 

Asturias adds his strong track record in driving large-scale demand generation and brand awareness programs, coupled with deep experience in international markets, establishing strategic partnerships and leading digital transformation programs to the company.

Asturias is Member of the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Defense Foundation / Inter-American Defense Board - Organization of American States, Member of the Board of Directors of ForwardHeroes, and serves as a Guest Adjunct Professor on National Security Affairs and Cybersecurity for the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies at the National Defense University. He has led effective programs and teams on behalf of companies such as Westin, Apple, Veritas, Symantec, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, and Cisco.

His efforts have led to key programs with private and public companies as well as with the governments of Mexico, the United States, Brazil, Costa Rica and Chile; with organizations such as the World Bank and the Center for Strategic and International Studies; and with a large number of ministries, defense departments and public-private entities.

Asturias obtained a bachelor's degree and numerous honors from the University of Tampa and specialized in Electronics Engineering while in the U.S. Air Force. His academic background also includes officer-training programs at the University of Texas, Business Administration and Management studies at the George Washington University School of Business (GWSB) and numerous courses and certifications from other entities, including by the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and U.S Department of Homeland Security in cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection; and the World Health Organization for COVID-19 country preparedness internationally.

He served at the prestigious Inter-American Air Forces Academy (IAAFA) for the US Air Force and US Department of Defense, focused on supporting foreign internal defense initiatives in Latin America.

In this episode:

  • What are the primary cybersecurity challenges facing nations today?
  • How prepared are national defence forces to confront an evolving cyber threat landscape?
  • How is Fortinet helping to address cybersecurity challenges in Canada?

And more!


For decades, Canadian Government Executive has been the essential print and digital publication for those navigating the complex machinery of the public service. Canadian Government Executive Radio extends that legacy into audio, creating a direct channel for conversation about the policies, technologies, and leadership shaping governance from town halls to Parliament Hill. This podcast moves beyond press releases and official statements to explore the real-world implementation of ideas. Each episode features candid discussions with deputy ministers, city managers, IT directors, and frontline innovators who are tasked with turning legislation into action. You’ll hear about the challenges of digital transformation, the intersection of cybersecurity and citizen services, and the evolving nature of public sector leadership in a time of rapid change. It’s a forum for the people who build, manage, and protect the programs that define Canadian society. By focusing on the practical expertise of senior officials and the technologists enabling modern government, this series provides context and clarity that you won’t find in daily news coverage. Tune in for a nuanced perspective on how decisions are made, how technology is adopted, and how public service executives are steering their organizations toward the future. This is where policy meets practice, offering listeners an insider’s understanding of the forces that govern.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Canadian Government Executive Radio
Podcast Episodes
Digitize and Automate for Efficient Citizen Services [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:35
In this episode of CGE Radio, Lori Turnbull talks with Eric Wolf, Product Manager, Public Sector-Digital Services at Xerox. Hear about the top opportunities to digitize citizen services, things that departments and agenc…
The role of virtual care in improving health outcomes for Canadians [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:02
What sort of role is virtual care playing in support of the public health system, especially during this time of COVID-19? Virtual is a platform that is being used today to provide most services and virtual care within h…
Make decisions at machine speed to combat cyber threats [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:05
COVID-19 has forced many to work remotely in both government and industry. Given this new norm, we are seeing a refocusing of cybersecurity strategies, massive growth in digital transformation, and the rapid adoption of…
Working Remotely: Motivation and Security [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:58
In this podcast, J. Richard Jones talks with Rola Dagher, President & CEO of Cisco Canada about the future of work. Working remotely has been a common theme during this time due to the coronavirus. How can you keep emplo…
Michael Wernick on Canada's response to COVID-19 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:03
In this episode, Lori Turnbull, deputy editor of CGE, talks with Michael Wernick about Canada's response to COVID-19 and the challenges that lie ahead on rebuilding and opening the economy. Michael retired in 2019 after…
Why governments need to capture data [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:09
Today on the show, J. Richard Jones talks with Scott Putman, CEO of IT Force about Business Intelligence and the importance for companies and government to capture their data for business and service continuity. Especial…
Mitigating the risks of working remotely [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:43
Due to COVID-19, many of us are forced to work remotely – even if we are ready or not. But working remotely comes with cyber risks. How can we reduce those risks while working remotely? In this episode of CGE Radio, J. R…
Accelerating digital citizen services safely and securely [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:08
As the current situation with COVID-19 unfolds, most services are moving to an online format and are being offered in a virtual setting. Getting to this point in providing digital services has taken many years of work to…