Insights
Plain-language cybersecurity for Canadian small businesses.
15 articles covering cyber-insurance readiness, ransomware, backup strategies, Microsoft 365 security, and the questions carriers actually ask in 2026. All free to read.
Articles published on CosmicBytez Labs, our long-running cybersecurity content publication. Authored by Dylan Hewitt, founder of Peace Country Cyber.
Featured
Northern Alberta SMB Cyber Threat Landscape: 2027 Outlook
What changed in 2026, what to expect in 2027, and where the actual risk falls for Canadian small businesses operating north of Edmonton.
5 Things Every 2026 Cyber-Insurance Policy Now Requires
The policy language changed materially between 2024 and 2026. Five consequential changes — and how to find them in your own policy in under an hour.
Anatomy of a Ransomware Attack on a Canadian Ag Operation
A composite case study of a typical 2026 ransomware incident hitting a Canadian agricultural business — from first phish through full encryption, six days later.
The 10 Controls Every Canadian Cyber-Insurance Carrier Asks About
Line-by-line walkthrough of the standard 2026 Canadian cyber-insurance questionnaire — what each question is really asking and what carriers do with the answer.
Why Every Business Needs Cyber Insurance in 2026
Cyber insurance stopped being optional for Canadian small businesses in 2024. By 2026 it's table-stakes — but most owners are walking into renewal without understanding what their carrier is actually asking.
All articles
Peace Country Cyber is Open for Business
Our public launch post. What we do, who we're for, and how to start a conversation.
The Cyber-Insurance Compliance Checklist — Now Available
Free 30-item self-assessment covering the controls Canadian cyber-insurance carriers actually ask about in 2026.
Introducing Peace Country Cyber
After a year of writing about Canadian SMB cybersecurity, we're building the firm we wished existed for northern Alberta.
EDR for SMBs: What It Actually Does, and Why Your Antivirus Isn't Enough
Endpoint Detection and Response is the single most important cybersecurity upgrade most Canadian SMBs can make in 2026. Plain-language explanation.
Why Your Accountant is a Ransomware Target
Small accounting firms have become primary ransomware targets in 2025–2026. The reasons are structural. What to ask your accountant before it's your data caught in the crossfire.
Starlink and Cybersecurity: Securing Rural Connectivity
Starlink solved one rural problem and accidentally created another. What changes when your only viable internet is a satellite dish.
Backup Strategies for Low-Bandwidth Rural Businesses
Most cloud-backup advice assumes city-grade internet. In rural Alberta where 10 Mbps upload is normal, the standard approach doesn't work. Here's what does.
Phishing Trends Hitting Western Canadian SMBs in 2026
Five phishing patterns we're seeing specifically targeting small businesses across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and BC in 2026.
The Microsoft 365 Security Baseline Every Small Business Should Have
Eight settings inside the Microsoft 365 admin console that take less than two hours to configure and block 90% of credential-based attacks.
What Rural Alberta Businesses Get Wrong About Ransomware
The five most common things rural Alberta business owners believe about ransomware that are wrong, expensive, and entirely fixable.
Ready for the practical version?
The articles tell you what to look for. The Risk Report tells you where you stand. The Assessment tells you what to fix and in what order.