2019-04-18
The securities regulator amends Regulation 21-101 to streamline reporting requirements and enhance operational standards for marketplaces and information processors. The changes extend filing deadlines for certain forms, mandate annual vulnerability assessments and independent systems reviews, and impose stricter notification and record-keeping obligations for material system failures and security incidents. Additionally, the amendment updates ownership disclosure exhibits and clarifies definitions to ensure consistent application across recognized exchanges, quotation and trade reporting systems, and alternative trading systems.
REGULATION TO AMEND REGULATION 21-101 RESPECTING MARKETPLACE OPERATION Securities Act (chapter V-1.1, s. 274, s. 331.1, par. (1), (2), (3), (8), (19) and (32.0.1), and s. 331.2)
2 “(d) keep a record of any systems failure, malfunction, delay or security incident and, if applicable, document the reasons why the marketplace considered the systems failure, malfunction, delay or security incident not to be material.”. 5. Section 12.1.1 of the Regulation is amended: (1) by replacing, in paragraph (a), the words “an adequate system of information security controls” with the words “adequate information security controls”; (2) by replacing paragraph (b) with the following: “(b) promptly notify the regulator, or in Québec, the securities regulatory authority and, if applicable, its regulation services provider, of any security incident that is material and provide timely updates on the status of the incident, the resumption of service, and the results of the marketplace’s internal review of the security incident, and “(c) keep a record of any such security incident and, if applicable, document the reasons why the marketplace considered that such security incident was not material.”. 6. The Regulation is amended by adding, after section 12.1.1, the following: “12.1.2. Vulnerability Assessments On a reasonably frequent basis and, in any event, at least annually, a marketplace must engage one or more qualified parties to perform appropriate assessments and testing to identify security vulnerabilities and measure the effectiveness of information security controls that assess the marketplace’s compliance with paragraphs 12.1(a) and 12.1.1(a).”. 7. Section 12.2 of the Regulation is amended by replacing paragraph (1) with the following: “(1) On a reasonably frequent basis and, in any event, at least annually, a marketplace must engage one or more qualified external auditors to conduct an independent systems review and prepare a report in accordance with established audit standards and best industry practices that assesses the marketplace’s compliance with (a) paragraph 12.1(a), (b) section 12.1.1, and (c) section 12.4.”. 8. Section 12.3 of the Regulation is amended: (1) by replacing, in subparagraph (a) of paragraphs (1) and (2), the word “and” with the word “or”; (2) by replacing, in subparagraph (a) of paragraph (3.1), “(2)(a)” with “(2)(b)”. 9. Section 12.4 of the Regulation is amended by replacing, in paragraph (3), “, that” with the word “that”, “, must” with the word “must” and the word “marketplace” with the words “recognized exchange or quotation and trade reporting system”. 10. Section 14.5 of the Regulation is replaced with following: “14.5. System Requirements (1) An information processor must (a) develop and maintain
3 (i) adequate internal controls over its critical systems, and (ii) adequate information technology general controls, including, without limitation, controls relating to information systems operations, information security, cyber resilience, change management, problem management, network support, and system software support, (b) in accordance with prudent business practice, on a reasonably frequent basis and in any event, at least annually, (i) make reasonable current and future capacity estimates for each of its systems, and (ii) conduct capacity stress tests of its critical systems to determine the processing capability of those systems to perform in an accurate, timely and efficient manner, (iii) (paragraph revoked), (c) on a reasonably frequent basis and, in any event, at least annually engage one or more qualified external auditors to conduct an independent systems review and prepare a report in accordance with established audit standards and best industry practices that assesses the information processor’s compliance with paragraph (a) and section 14.6, (d) provide the report resulting from the review conducted under paragraph (c) to (i) its board of directors or the audit committee promptly upon the report’s completion, and (ii) the regulator or, in Québec, the securities regulatory authority, by the earlier of the 30th day after providing the report to its board of directors or the audit committee or the 60th day after the calendar year end, (e) promptly notify the following of any systems failure, malfunction, delay or security incident that is material and provide timely updates on the status of the failure, malfunction, delay or security incident, the resumption of service and the results of the information processor’s internal review of the failure, malfunction, delay or security incident: (i) the regulator or, in Québec, the securities regulatory authority, and (ii) any regulation services provider, recognized exchange or recognized quotation and trade reporting system monitoring trading of the securities about which information is provided to the information processor, and (f) keep a record of any systems failure, malfunction, delay or security incident and, if applicable, document the reasons why the information processor considered the systems failure, malfunction, delay or security incident not to be material. (2) An information processor must provide the regulator or, in Québec, the securities regulatory authority with a report by the 30th day after the end of the calendar quarter, containing a log and summary description of each systems failure, malfunction, delay or security incident referred to in paragraph (1)(f).”.
4 11. The Regulation is amended by inserting, after section 14.5, the following: “14.5.1. Vulnerability Assessments On a reasonably frequent basis and, in any event, at least annually, an information processor must engage one or more qualified parties to perform appropriate assessments and testing to identify security vulnerabilities and measure the effectiveness of information security controls that assess the information processor’s compliance with paragraph 14.5(1)(a).”. 12. Form 21-101F1 of the Regulation is amended: (1) by replacing Exhibit B with the following: “Exhibit B – Ownership For an exchange or quotation and trade reporting system that is a corporation, provide a list of the beneficial holders of 5% or more of any class of securities of the exchange or quotation and trade reporting system. For each listed security holder, please provide the following:
5 13. Form 21-101F2 of the Regulation is amended: (1) by replacing Exhibit B with the following: “Exhibit B – Ownership For an ATS that is a corporation, provide a list of the beneficial holders of 5% or more of any class of securities of the ATS. For each listed security holder, please provide the following:
6 (b) by deleting, in Chart 3, rows 2 and 7; (c) by deleting item 5. 15. Form 21-101F5 of the Regulation is amended by repealing paragraph 5 of item 1 of Exhibit C. 16. This Regulation comes into force on (indicate here the date of coming into force of this Regulation).