Data security and privacy

Employee education and diligence are critical to our success in protecting our Clients’ data. Each year, all employees complete mandatory security and privacy training courses. This training helps them understand their responsibilities, relevant rules and how to protect Client data and confidentiality.

We also provide extra guidance and awareness-building programs to help employees deepen their knowledge. For example, our security team conducts interactive phishing simulations. These tests teach employees to find and avoid real-world cyber threats they may meet. 

Cybersecurity is a growing concern for the public and a top priority for Sun Life. Organizations around the world are facing increasing attacks on their computer systems by sophisticated hacking groups.

Our Senior Vice-President and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is accountable for providing global oversight over the implementation of Sun Life’s information security program and the Security Risk Policy. The CISO leads a global team of over 170 highly qualified individuals. His global mandate includes the development, execution and operational management of Sun Life’s security strategy, risk assessments, security controls, monitoring, incident response and compliance.

We continue to evolve our cyber defences to be effective against emerging threats. For example:

• Defence best practices: We align our security program to leading frameworks such as the Cybersecurity Framework of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. This framework outlines best practices to help organizations manage and lower their cybersecurity risks.

• Multiple control layers: We follow the three-lines-of-defence model to manage security risks (refer to Risk Management). We incorporate a “defence-in-depth” strategy and use multiple control layers to protect all data. These controls range from web firewalls, anti-malware software and encryption to intrusion monitoring and email threat protection.

• Security audits and testing: We regularly perform security audits, scanning and testing of Sun Life’s systems and practices involving Client data. Our security team assesses how effective our controls are and drives active improvements. We use security solutions that incorporate artificial intelligence and machine learning. These technologies help our security analysts assess threats and respond to cyberattacks. Every quarter, we report on cyber risk and cybersecurity to the Risk Committee of the Board of Directors.

• Cyber intelligence: We use several cyber intelligence services to help us identify, assess and update our defences against the latest cyber threats.

Our reputation depends on being responsible for data entrusted to us. Delivering on this duty involves:

• Commitment to standards: Our global privacy program is part of Sun Life’s risk management framework across the company. The program includes robust processes and standards including our Global Privacy Statement. It explains how we collect and use the personal information of Clients, and other individuals who interact with us, in a lawful and respectful manner.

• Oversight and reporting: The Chief Privacy Officer oversees and sets direction for privacy compliance across the enterprise. Privacy Officers across the enterprise help our businesses make privacy-related decisions. Every quarter, we report any significant privacy matters to the Board.

• Privacy by design: We use privacy-by-design principles in our product development. For new initiatives or material changes to existing processes, we conduct Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs). These assessments help us identify and manage privacy risks. We also include appropriate privacy and security clauses in contracts with third parties that handle personal information for us. 

Sun Life engages with industry groups to share intelligence and best practices for building stronger data protection programs. Examples include: 

• The Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center
• The Cyber Security Specialists Group organized by the Canadian Bankers Association
• The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Information Security Sharing Group
• The Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange
• The Canadian Anonymization Network
• American Council of Life Insurers
• Life Insurance Council of New York, Inc.