SNC-Lavalin, now operating as AtkinsRéalis, is a global engineering and construction company founded in 1911 with over a century of infrastructure delivery experience. The company operates across power, nuclear, mining, transportation, and water management sectors, providing engineering services, project management, procurement, construction, and consulting. With a worldwide footprint, the organization has delivered projects ranging from massive hydroelectric installations like the James Bay hydro project to cutting-edge nuclear technology deployments.
The technical scope spans nuclear expertise, sustainable transportation design, clean energy solutions, power systems, mining infrastructure, water management, and hydroelectric project delivery. The company's service model integrates data and technology across the engineering lifecycle - from initial design and consulting through procurement and construction - positioning it at the intersection of traditional infrastructure engineering and modern systems integration. This convergence of operational technology, critical infrastructure, and data systems creates a significant attack surface requiring sophisticated security architecture.
For cybersecurity professionals, the threat model is substantial: nuclear facilities represent critical national infrastructure with stringent regulatory requirements; power systems and hydroelectric projects require industrial control system (ICS) security and SCADA protection; mining operations involve remote site connectivity and supply chain vulnerabilities; and transportation networks increasingly depend on connected systems. The company's global consulting and project management operations mean securing data flows across jurisdictions, protecting engineering intellectual property, and managing third-party risk across complex procurement chains. Led by CEO Ian L. Edwards and headquartered in Canada, the organization's scale and sector diversity demand security practitioners who understand both IT and OT environments, regulatory compliance frameworks, and the operational realities of protecting infrastructure that serves communities for generations.