Zoho, the private security firm that has been hired by the Canadian Forces to help them deal with a massive spike in the number of security breaches, is now recruiting for its new special operations force, which will operate under the banner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The company says it will hire approximately 200 personnel, and the recruitment drive began Tuesday morning.
The RCMP declined to comment on the new recruit.
In a statement posted on its website, Zoho says it is committed to providing security for the public and to enhancing the quality of life for all Canadians.
The company is hiring at the following levels: Chief Operations Officer (COA): $50,000 per year for six years; Director of Security (DS): $25,000; Senior Communications Officer (SCO): $15,000.
Other senior staff positions will be offered, the company says.
“Zoho is excited to be part of the RCP and to join a team that will be focused on providing Canadians with the best available services,” the statement said.
“We’re proud to have worked with the RCMP on their successful response to this unprecedented crisis, and look forward to building a team dedicated to delivering the highest quality of service to Canadians.”
Zoho has been a major supplier of security services for the RCMP since 2007.
In 2012, it signed a memorandum of understanding with the department to provide security services to the RBC and its contractors.
In 2017, the RCMP said it had received more than $4.5 million from Zoho since the start of the pandemic, more than any other Canadian military.
The RBC says it has been forced to close many security services because of the spike in breaches, including one in January that compromised the personal data of a former federal public safety minister.
The department has since shuttered several other security services.
The government has promised to provide the RRC with at least $1.3 billion in funding, and has promised a further $2.5 billion to the RCMP over the next 10 years.
“The RCMP’s top priority is to secure Canadians, and they have committed $1 billion to that effort over the coming years,” said Const.
Kerry Schmidt, the deputy director of the RCMP.
“Our hope is that the government will support that by providing some funding, funding that will provide more services to our police force.”
Zogo said it is seeking an experienced senior officer with a strong record of security-related work who can work with its contractors to ensure the services are being provided to the best possible standards.
The firm’s first contract with the government ends in 2020, and it will be seeking a new contract to renew that.
“When it comes to cybersecurity and the need for our officers to have the best level of protection available, we’re looking forward to being part of this transition,” Schmidt said.
Zoho said it will provide security support for the ROC, but that it will also work with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) and other departments to assist with the training and oversight of its staff.
The move comes a day after the CACP announced that its members were “outraged” by the RUC’s handling of the breach of its data.
In an open letter, the CCP said it has “never experienced such a breach of data of the highest order,” and said the CACP was “extremely concerned” about the Ruc’s “unprofessional” behaviour.
Zogo was the first private security company to be hired by ROC.
