Shared Services Canada will use BlackBerry Spark and BlackBerry SecuSuite across the government’s IT systems. The tools securely manage data and communications on work devices. The Waterloo, Ont.-based firm also announced a partnership with IBM that will see the latter resell BlackBerry cybersecurity products to enterprises and governments. The terms of both deals were not disclosed. (The Logic)

Talking point: BlackBerry is increasingly targeting governments and companies handling large pools of data that need to be secure. In a call with analysts last month, CEO John Chen cited recent business with the IRS, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Scottish government and the London Metro Police Service and Bell Canada, among others. Cybersecurity expert Florian Kerschbaum said Ottawa is wise to use a domestic security provider for its IT systems, noting, “American and other international products are not reliable.” Canada’s government has a long history of supporting BlackBerry products, including as an early customer of its smartphones and with its $40-million grant in 2019 for the QNX connected-car platform.