When Compugen launched its Security Insights Activation, the goal wasn’t to sell; it was to listen and understand.
When Compugen launched its Security Insights Activation, powered by Microsoft’s Power Apps platform, at Colloque Cybersecurité et Protection des données personnelles 2025, the goal wasn’t to sell; it was to listen and understand.
Cyber security in Quebec’s public sector is more than an IT concern; it’s a daily balancing act. Through Microsoft Power Apps, Compugen invited technology and security leaders from across 22 Quebec-based organizations to share their biggest cyber security challenges, current security measures, and what kind of help would make the most difference.
The responses collected through Compugen’s interactive Power Apps experience revealed both the complexity of maintaining security and the resilience of the people behind it. From government agencies to healthcare networks and educational institutions, one message was clear: every organization is committed to protecting its data, but most are doing so with limited resources.
The Challenge: Strength Under Strain
What we learned from the Security Insights Activation app is that across every sector, leaders described the same challenge; maintaining a strong security posture in the face of growing threats, limited visibility, and rising complexity.
“We know what needs to be done. We just don’t always have the capacity to do it consistently," said one municipal IT director.
Nearly every respondent emphasized visibility, governance, and control as essential to their cyber security strategy. Others cited the pressure of managing vulnerabilities across hybrid systems.
A school board technology manager put it plainly: “Our teams are small, but the number of systems and updates keeps growing. It feels like the attack surface is expanding faster than our resources.”
And the stakes are high. A provincial auditor’s office representative noted, “Our mission depends on trust. If sensitive data is exposed, everything else we do loses credibility.”
Barriers that Go Beyond Technology
The findings from the Security Insights Activation align with what many organizations already suspect; technology isn’t the main obstacle.
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21 organizations cited budget or staffing limitations as their top challenge.
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Others pointed to complex IT environments and overlapping tools.
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A smaller number mentioned ROI uncertainty, often tied to competing budget priorities.
“We’re doing everything possible with what we have. Sometimes that means choosing between uptime and upgrading our defences,” shared one healthcare security lead.
Compugen’s Power Apps data makes one thing clear: Quebec’s public institutions understand what needs to happen to strengthen cyber security; they just need the means and the right partners to get there. And while this exercise was undertaken within Quebec, it’s relevant to all customers, not just those in the Quebec public sector.
Guidance over Gadgets
One of the strongest trends in the Power Apps data was the call for advisory support over new tools.
When asked what kind of assistance would make the biggest difference, the top responses were:
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Compliance, governance, and policy guidance (12 organizations)
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Visibility and risk reporting improvements (8 organizations)
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Identity and access strengthening (8 organizations)
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Faster detection and response capabilities (7 organizations)
“We don’t need more dashboards,” explained one regional public service manager. "We need someone who can help us read the ones we already have.”
This feedback reflects a growing maturity in how organizations approach cyber security in Quebec. The goal isn’t to add complexity. The goal is to achieve clarity.
Turning Insights into Action
We turned the insights gathered through Power Apps into tangible outcomes, starting with the Data Security Immersion Briefing.
This collaborative session directly addresses the needs raised by public sector leaders, focusing on:
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Data and IP protection
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Compliance and governance alignment
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Visibility and risk monitoring
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Threat protection and faster response
As one education sector respondent shared, “Even just being asked the right questions made me think differently about our next steps.”
The briefing reflects Compugen’s belief that technology should enhance understanding, not overwhelm it. By translating dozens of candid responses into an actionable framework, Compugen is helping organizations move from reactive to proactive security.
Listening as a Security Strategy
The Security Insights Activation proved that the most effective cybersecurity strategies begin with listening and understanding.
Through the Security Insights Activation powered by Microsoft Power Apps, Compugen listened directly to those responsible for protecting Quebec’s critical infrastructure — hospitals managing patient data, municipalities safeguarding citizen information, and educators securing digital classrooms. Each operates in a different world, but all share one truth: they need trusted allies who understand their reality.
Take the Next Step Toward a Stronger Security Posture
The Security Insights Activation proved that the best way to help organizations strengthen security is to start with understanding.
If your team is facing similar challenges, balancing budgets, compliance, and growing threat complexity, then now is the time to take the next step. Compugen’s security workshop is a collaborative session designed around the very needs our customers’ leaders identified: stronger governance, better visibility, and smarter data protection.
If you’re not sure where to start, our Data Security Immersion Briefing provides a comprehensive overview of security risks and effective mitigation strategies. If you want to dive right into hardening your security posture, our security workshops connect you with Compugen’s security experts to assess your current security posture, identify areas of improvement, and build a clear path toward resilience. Because when you start with insight, you finish with confidence.
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