Alberta earmarks $40M to upgrade 66 government applications after rise in cyber incidents

Alberta’s government has set aside $40 million in its latest budget to update or patch 66 software applications following a significant increase in cybersecurity incidents last year.

According to Alberta’s 2026–27 budget documents, the funding will support upgrades and security patches across government systems. The province did not specify which applications are being modernized, stating that releasing those details could create additional security risks.

The budget documents indicate the government managed close to 3,000 cybersecurity incidents last year, a 35 per cent increase compared with 2024. Officials also reported handling nearly 20,000 malware attacks over the same period.

The province said some of the affected applications are public-facing systems and are monitored closely for suspicious activity. It did not provide details on whether any breaches resulted in data loss or service disruptions.

Context: The funding comes amid a reported year-over-year rise in cybersecurity activity targeting government systems. The upgrades are part of the province’s 2026–27 fiscal plan and are expected to proceed within the current budget cycle.