News & Media
For media inquiries please contact: catalystpress@torontomu.ca
New program propels tech startups to tackle critical cyber challenges facing Ontario sectors
Press Release
Today, the Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange (“CCTX”) and Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst at Toronto Metropolitan University (“the Catalyst”) proudly announce the launch of the Cyber Challenge: a groundbreaking new program designed to empower Ontario tech startups to address industry-specific cybersecurity challenges experienced by six leading sectors in the province.
LISTEN: Catalyst’s Randy Purse on Canadian SME Podcast
As cyberattacks become widespread among businesses and organizations, leaders must invest in training and education in order to navigate the complex cyber...
Catalyst partners with Blackberry to bolster cybersecurity skills in Malaysia
New cybersecurity leadership program to be offered under the BlackBerry Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (CCoE) in Kuala Lumpur, with full-tuition scholarships available...
WATCH: Charles Finlay discusses the future of municipal cybersecurity with CP24
Following two separate cyberattacks in recent weeks, there has been an increased focus on the City of Hamilton’s cybersecurity response. The Catalyst’s...
WATCH: Mastercard Emerging Leaders Cyber Initiative celebrates International Women’s Day 2024
Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst is committed to closing the gender gap in cyber, and in honour of International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating with...
WATCH: Charles Finlay discusses the rise of cyberattacks worldwide with Global News Toronto
Cybercrime is on the rise around the globe, with recent attacks targeting organizations across the U.S., U.K., Australia, Europe and Canada. As...
City of Hamilton network latest casualty in global cyberwar
The following article was first published by The Hamilton Spectator on March 1, 2024. The hack that disabled much of the City of...
Catalyst and AMO team up to provide new cyber training opportunities for municipal leaders and staff
February 20, 2024 (Brampton, ON) – Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst at Toronto Metropolitan University (“the Catalyst”) and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario...
WATCH: Catalyst Fellowship Program virtual panel on cyber regulations in Canada
In case you missed our Catalyst Fellowship Program Virtual Panel: Cybersecurity Threats in Canada on January 30, we explored the Canadian cybersecurity...
LISTEN: Interview with Charles Finlay on iHeartRadio
Listen to the full interview with Catalyst Founding Executive Director, Charles Finlay, on the Moore in the Morning show (iHeartRadio) on January 4,...
Catalyst receives $2.4 million investment to launch Advanced Cyber Education (ACE) training program, powered by Upskill Canada
The investment from Upskill Canada will provide a subsidized opportunity for cybersecurity professionals to excel in specialized roles November 27, 2023 (Brampton,...
WATCH: Recapping the Catalyst’s five-year anniversary event
Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst is five! We were thrilled to celebrate our five-year anniversary with our incredible Catalyst community, including our partners, alumni,...
Iceberg Cyber founder: “I have not come across another cyber hub like this anywhere in the world”
The following article was first published by Investment Monitor on November 17, 2023. Cyber entrepreneurs Michael Bakaic and Erinn van Wynsberghe have...
Ransomware attack behind Toronto Public Library service interruption, library says
The following article was first published by CBC News on November 7, 2023. Charles Finlay, executive Director of the Roger CyberSecure catalyst...
Public institutions, critical infrastructure cyberattacks a growing trend
The following article was written by Dave Waddell and was first published in the Windsor Star on November 6, 2023. The cyberattack...
Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst to deliver cybersecurity training to municipal IT professionals through partnership with MISA Ontario
October 24, 2023 (Brampton, ON) – Today, Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst at Toronto Metropolitan University (“the Catalyst”) and Municipal Information Systems Association, Ontario...
Why is there such a massive cybersecurity talent gap in Canada?
The following article first appeared in DX Journal on October 18, 2023. This is a story about the acute talent gap in...
Autonomous Fleets Are Almost Here. Are They Safe From Cyberattacks?
The following op-ed first appeared in Newsweek on October 9, 2023. As our society transforms into a more connected world, an essential component of...
Quebec’s new Law 25 is the toughest privacy legislation in Canada. Here’s why it matters.
The following op-ed first appeared in the Toronto Star on October 7, 2023. Although still behind the EU, Quebec is miles ahead of the...
Purse: Quantum technology will be here soon, but are we ready for it?
The following op-ed first appeared in the Ottawa Citizen on October 4, 2023. Within the next five to 25 years, quantum computing...
Women are great cybersecurity hires. So why are they so underrepresented in a short-staffed field?
The following article first appeared in DX Journal on Sept 20, 2023.In January 2023, the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) delivered its baseline cyber...
Have I been hacked? Cybersecurity experts share tips for protecting personal data
The following article was written by Jacob Dube and Anna Stafford and was first published in the The Globe and Mail on Sept...
CCTX and Catalyst announce new $10 million program to fuel cybersecurity excellence and innovation in Ontario
The new Ontario Cybersecurity Excellence Initiative is supported by $5 million from the Government of Ontario, and $3.8 million from Rogers Communications...
WATCH: Can diversity and resilience address the crisis of recruiting and retaining cybersecurity talent?
This discussion was first published by IT World Canada on August 21, 2023 As cyber threats increase in frequency and complexity, many...
Canada needs rules for internet-connected devices
The following op-ed was written by Catalyst founding executive director, Charles Finlay, and David Shipley, CEO of Beauceron Security (an alum of the Catalyst’s...
WATCH: Learn why industry professionals hire Catalyst talent
The Catalyst trains hundreds of new cyber professionals each year. Our workforce training programs are specifically designed to support employers hire top...
Regulate artificial intelligence — before it’s too late
The following op-ed was written by Dr. Jeff Schwartzentruber, an industry fellow with the Catalyst Fellowship Program, and was first published in...
Catalyst Fellowship Program: A collaborative approach to improving cybersecurity
The following feature article was written for Innovation Issue 38: Summer 2023, a publication by Toronto Metropolitan University’s Office of the Vice-President,...
CLIC: There’s a place for you in cyber
CLIC (Certifications for Leadership in Cybersecurity) is an intensive cybersecurity training and certification program designed to give you the skills you need...
WATCH: Charles Finlay on CBC’s About That discussing LockBit ransomware
Cybersecurity agencies from seven countries issued an advisory about LockBit, a group responsible for as much as a quarter of all ransomware...
WATCH: Developing a Successful Cyber IP Commercialization Strategy
On Monday, June 12, a panel of experts convened by the Catalyst Fellowship Program came together to discuss the current state of...
WATCH: Three cyber professionals share how Catalyst training changed their lives
CLIC, our new intensive cybersecurity training and certification program, is designed to give you the skills you need to launch a career...
Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst and Cyber Legends announce partnership to equip Canadian students with critical cybersecurity skills
May 31, 2023 (Brampton, ON) – Today, Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst (“the Catalyst”) and Cyber Legends are proud to announce a unique partnership...
CLIC is designed to help women succeed in cyber
With women holding only about 25% of cybersecurity roles worldwide, it’s clear there is significant work to do to close the gender...
Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst partners with Coding for Veterans to deliver cybersecurity training to Canadian veterans
Brampton, ON – May 23, 2023 – Today, Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst at Toronto Metropolitan University (“the Catalyst”) and Coding for Veterans (“C4V”)...
WATCH: Celebrating the first Emerging Leaders Cyber Initiative (ELCI) cohort
Congratulations to the graduates of the first cohort of the Mastercard Emerging Leaders Cyber Initiative at Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst. It’s been a...
WATCH: Experience the Catalyst Cyber Range
Take your cybersecurity training from theoretical to hands-on with the Catalyst Cyber Range – a unique cybersecurity training and testing platform that...
WATCH: An evening to celebrate the Catalyst Cyber Accelerator community
On March 30, 2023, the Catalyst Cyber Accelerator invited its community of founders, entrepreneurs, mentors and stakeholders to celebrate the release of...
WATCH: Meet some of the founders and mentors in the Catalyst Cyber Accelerator
On March 29, 2023, we celebrated the launch of the Catalyst Cyber Accelerator’s 2020-2022 report with some of the accelerator founders, mentors...
REPORT: Canadian cybersecurity start-ups collectively grew workforce by 72 per cent and fundraised $100 million amid global headwinds
Early-stage founders leveraged unique growth approach to drive technological innovation, market access and revenue generation March 29, 2023 (Brampton, ON) – Rogers...
Toronto Metropolitan University appoints former Mayor of Stratford and cybersecurity advocate Dan Mathieson as Special Advisor
Brampton, ON – March 22, 2023 – Today, Toronto Metropolitan University (“TMU”) announced the appointment of Dan Mathieson as Special Advisor, Cybersecurity...
The Internet of Things exposes us all to the biggest cyber threats
The following op-ed was written by Dr.-Ing Monika Freunek, a research fellow with the Catalyst Fellowship Program, and was first published in...
WATCH: The Hunt for Hack-Tastic Talent: Analyzing the Cyber Talent Shortage
On Monday, March 13, a panel of experts convened by the Catalyst Fellowship Program came together to discuss the critical shortage of...
Leading by Example: How to encourage more women to consider careers in cybersecurity
It’s no secret that the cybersecurity sector needs more women. The industry benefits when there are more professionals with diverse backgrounds and...
Mastercard renews partnership with the Catalyst for Emerging Leaders program that supports women leaders in cybersecurity
March 7, 2023 (Brampton, ON) – Today, Mastercard Canada and Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst at Toronto Metropolitan University are proud to announce their...
Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst launches new dual-certification program designed to launch cybersecurity careers
CLIC (Certifications for Leadership in Cybersecurity) builds on the Catalyst’s experience in delivering leading cybersecurity workforce training programs and will allow more...
How an innovative cyber range helps companies prepare for the inevitable
The following article was written by the Globe Content Studio and was first published in the The Globe and Mail on February 27,...
When cyber experts gather, anxiety is high on the agenda
The following op-ed was written by Catalyst Executive Director Charles Finlay and was first published in iPolitics on Feb 14, 2022. Attend...
Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst at Toronto Metropolitan University to provide cybersecurity training in Ukraine
February 10, 2023 (Brampton, ON) — Today, Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst announced the launch of a new pilot program that will train up...
Meet the cyber accelerator helping startups scale up
The following article was written by the Globe Content Studio and was first published in the The Globe and Mail on February 9,...
RBC and Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst at Toronto Metropolitan University join forces to expand CyberStart Canada program
Gamified cybersecurity experience offers young Canadians a fun, high-impact way to learn more about growing sector February 1, 2023 (Brampton) –...
WATCH: Catalyst’s Charles Finlay, Tracy Dallaire and Neil Desai join Steve Paikin on TVO’s The Agenda
With a wave of recent cyberattacks on hospitals and other infrastructure, will these disruptions become a regular occurrence? Steve Paikin chats with...
LISTEN: Charles Finlay joins 680 CHED to discuss rising cyberattacks
Cyberattacks targeting Canadian hospitals, health care systems and municipalities are on the rise. 630 CHED’s Shaye Ganam spoke to Catalyst executive director...
Why are there so many cyberattacks lately? An explainer on the rising trend
This is an excerpt, read the full article on Global News. A wave of high-profile cyberattacks has recently hit hospitals, businesses and organizations in...
Don’t hide your data. Own it.
The following op-ed was written by Will Christodoulou and Sukhman Dulay of Catalyst Cyber Accelerator cohort 6 company Cyder, and was first published...
Why this cybersecurity company wants to help the small businesses defend themselves
Starting your own company can be an uncomfortable, risky, and uncertain feat. But, for Elana Graham, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of...
WATCH: Charles Finlay joins CTV Your Morning to discuss AirTags danger
The Catalyst’s founding executive director, Charles Finlay, joined CTV Your Morning on December 15th to speak with host Anne-Marie Mediwake on the...
How this cybersecurity company is beating the odds amidst tech industry layoffs
The tech industry has been grappling with massive layoffs over the last year, with tech giants like Shopify laying off 10 percent...
Tech Sector Chaos Risks Serious Cyber Attacks
It’s a bumpy ride in the technology sector these days. Tech firms of all kinds are aggressively resizing, responding to the realities...
WATCH: Bridging the Bubbles: Connecting Academia and Industry in Cybersecurity Research
In the first webinar of the Catalyst Fellowship Program, panelists Shiladitya Sircar (SVP, Cybersecurity Product Engineering at Blackberry), Sumit Bhatia (Director, Innovation...
WATCH: Launch of the Mastercard Emerging Leaders Cyber Initiative
October marked the launch of our Mastercard Emerging Leaders Cyber Initiative! This unique program brings together 30 women leaders in cybersecurity...
Inspiring Girls to Consider a Career in Cybersecurity
November 8 is National STEM Day and CyberStart Canada is celebrating all things STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) – and...
The talent shortage and lack of diversity in cybersecurity is a problem for everyone. Here’s one solution.
As individuals and organizations put increasing amounts of sensitive data on connected networks, the frequency and impact of cybersecurity breaches grow. The...
Diversifying talent pool key to solving cyber talent shortage in Canada
Long thought of as the domain of people with specific technical skills, the cybersecurity industry welcomes people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives....
Don’t get reeled in: five ways you can protect yourself from a phishing scam
As we spend more and more time online, we are increasingly exposed to cyber-related threats – one of the most common being...
Announcing the 2022-2023 fellows of the inaugural Catalyst Fellowship Program at Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst
Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst (Toronto Metropolitan University’s national centre for training, innovation and collaboration in cybersecurity) is delighted to announce the inaugural cohort...
Catalyst launches CyberStart Canada: a gamified cybersecurity youth learning experience
CyberStart Canada empowers girls, young women and non-binary students to explore cybersecurity in a fun, safe and collaborative environment. September 6, 2022...
New Catalyst training programs will focus on creating opportunity for underrepresented groups
March 3, 2022 (Brampton, ON) – Today, Mastercard and Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst at Toronto Metropolitan University (“Catalyst”) announced two unique training programs designed...
New program propels tech startups to tackle critical cyber challenges facing Ontario sectors
Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange and Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst launch groundbreaking Cyber Challenge to develop cyber solutions for six of Ontario’s key industries. April...
LISTEN: Catalyst’s Randy Purse on Canadian SME Podcast
As cyberattacks become widespread among businesses and organizations, leaders must invest in training and education in order to navigate the complex cyber...
Catalyst partners with Blackberry to bolster cybersecurity skills in Malaysia
New cybersecurity leadership program to be offered under the BlackBerry Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (CCoE) in Kuala Lumpur, with full-tuition scholarships available...
WATCH: Charles Finlay discusses the future of municipal cybersecurity with CP24
Following two separate cyberattacks in recent weeks, there has been an increased focus on the City of Hamilton’s cybersecurity response. The Catalyst’s...
WATCH: Mastercard Emerging Leaders Cyber Initiative celebrates International Women’s Day 2024
Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst is committed to closing the gender gap in cyber, and in honour of International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating with...
WATCH: Charles Finlay discusses the rise of cyberattacks worldwide with Global News Toronto
Cybercrime is on the rise around the globe, with recent attacks targeting organizations across the U.S., U.K., Australia, Europe and Canada. As...
City of Hamilton network latest casualty in global cyberwar
The following article was first published by The Hamilton Spectator on March 1, 2024. The hack that disabled much of the City of...
Catalyst and AMO team up to provide new cyber training opportunities for municipal leaders and staff
February 20, 2024 (Brampton, ON) – Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst at Toronto Metropolitan University (“the Catalyst”) and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario...
WATCH: Catalyst Fellowship Program virtual panel on cyber regulations in Canada
In case you missed our Catalyst Fellowship Program Virtual Panel: Cybersecurity Threats in Canada on January 30, we explored the Canadian cybersecurity...