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Traditional global security relationships are fracturing. As alliances shift and nation-state tensions rise, terrorist groups and organized crime networks are exploiting new vulnerabilities. They're operating across borders with sophisticated capabilities—capabilities that conventional law enforcement can't easily track. Public safety agencies face a stark reality: they must respond to these complex threats through new collaborative approaches, while managing fiscal pressures and legislative constraints their adversaries don't face.
Meeting these challenges requires a bold shift in how security agencies work. The path forward demands powerful new technologies with new cooperation between public- and private-sector organizations. It's about creating agile, threat-agnostic capabilities for today's challenges and tomorrow's threats. And it's about developing the business case for transformation, implementing new technologies thoughtfully and establishing governance frameworks that facilitate rapid information sharing. With this collaborative approach, we can build our collective resilience for the future.
An emerging threat landscape
The dynamics of terrorism and organized crime have fundamentally shifted. Gone are the days of neatly categorized, geographically contained threats. Today’s criminal networks operate in a fluid, borderless environment where they’re quick to exploit emerging technologies.
Technology is reshaping the threat landscape. Criminal organizations are using digital platforms, encrypted communications, drones and cyberattacks to propagate violence and disrupt societies—underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive and adaptive countermeasures. At the heart of this challenge lies a critical gap: data sharing and coordination. When agencies work with outdated, disconnected systems, they can't respond quickly enough to emerging threats.
This integration challenge exists at every level—from municipal to provincial to federal to beyond Canada’s borders. The answer isn't just about better surveillance. It's about building integrated systems that support swift, secure information sharing within and across organizations—and, where these systems are already in place, enhancing the value they add to intelligence and operational activities. With the right policies and analytical tools in place, organizations can share the intelligence needed to facilitate timely interventions.
Beyond technology, agencies responsible for our public safety face a more fundamental challenge: keeping pace with change. Today’s threats evolve rapidly—across core ideas, actors and operational tools. To stay ahead, defence, public safety and security organizations need new approaches to building and retiring capabilities. They need systems that flex and scale. And they need teams ready to learn and adapt. This agility isn't just about effectiveness today—it's about creating sustainable models that can confront the threats of tomorrow.
The evolving threat landscape demands a fundamental shift in how security agencies build partnerships. Traditional government-to-government intelligence sharing is insufficient—and can no longer be taken for granted. Security organizations must look to form new relationships with organizations that can strengthen their capabilities and complement their expertise. Through new collaborative networks, agencies can build more robust responses to complex security challenges.
Building stronger security capabilities: A framework for action
A tech-driven, people-empowered security response combines proactive strategies with collaborative approaches. Here are five key areas where organizations can create more robust, adaptable capabilities:
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Moving security forward through public-private collaborations
Complex and interconnected threats demand more than isolated responses. They require comprehensive solutions harnessing diverse perspectives and resources. Acting independently offers control. But it often lacks the scale needed to address today’s multifaceted challenges.
Conversely, collaboration between public- and private-sector organizations brings collective expertise, technology and intelligence, fostering innovation and strengthening capabilities. Working together, organizations can build more efficient, integrated responses to terrorism and organized crime.
This collaboration creates value in three key ways:
Mission focus: Private-sector organizations can support essential enabling functions, freeing security agencies to focus on their core mission.
Integrated capabilities: Private-sector technology and specialized expertise enhance agencies' capabilities and provide the tools needed to confront security threats.
Improved governance: Joint frameworks create strategic alignment, enhancing transparency and accountability.
Case study: Integrated operations in the UK
In the UK, counterterrorism efforts emphasize the need for adaptable and integrated operations to tackle increasingly decentralized and complex threats. The 2024 Southport knife attack exposed critical weaknesses in data sharing and coordination1, underscoring the urgency for system interoperability. In response, the UK invested heavily in technological solutions2, notably implementing artificial intelligence (AI) tools that enhance operational precision and early threat detection. These AI solutions facilitate real-time data processing and pattern recognition, helping to swiftly identify potential threats. The UK also employs technologies such as distributed acoustic sensing to bolster its surveillance and deterrence capabilities as well as improve information sharing among stakeholders.
Furthermore, the integration of cyber units and joint intelligence creates a more connected operational environment. Initiatives such as the City of London Police’s work to develop national fraud detection capabilities3, provide a model for tackling contemporary security challenges through adaptable infrastructure and shared platforms that unites technological advances with human oversight.
UK agencies are now taking the next step—bringing counterterrorism and organized crime teams closer together. By sharing capabilities and aligning national-to-local delivery, they're building more agile, threat-agnostic responses for the future.
Like the UK, Canada is on a journey to strengthen integration between national security, law enforcement and organized crime units—recognizing that tomorrow's threats demand new ways of working.
The path forward
Terrorist and organized crime groups continue to evolve their operations—and so must the agencies responsible for our public safety if we’re to collectively defeat these threats while managing costs and legislative constraints.
Success depends on bold moves: building new collaborative relationships, implementing powerful technologies and creating more adaptable capabilities. The organizations that thrive will be those that transform how they work—bringing together the right capabilities, governance and expertise.
PwC’s purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. While we don't claim to be the experts in intelligence gathering or counterterrorism operations, we bring complementary capabilities that matter. Our focus is clear: we help you strengthen your core mission through strategic focus, intelligent resource allocation, transformative technology deployment and connecting you with the right private-sector solutions.
We thank our colleagues at PwC UK for their contributions to this article.
1 Sean Seddon and Ian Aikman, “How red flags over Southport killer were repeatedly missed”, BBC News, January 23, 2025, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78w7nlwz9po
2 “National Security Strategy 2025: Security for the British People in a Dangerous World”, UK Cabinet Office, June 24, 2025, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-security-strategy-2025-security-for-the-british-people-in-a-dangerous-world/national-security-strategy-2025-security-for-the-british-people-in-a-dangerous-world-html
3 City Corporation’s policing head: New £150m service will stop, block and catch more fraudsters,” City of London Newsroom, April 26, 2024, https://news.cityoflondon.gov.uk/city-corporations-policing-head-new-150m-service-will-stop-block-and-catch-more-fraudsters/
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National Defence, Public Safety and Justice Leader, PwC Canada
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