The Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity showcases the expertise of cybersecurity researchers, academics and professionals during its annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month webinar series in October and after the Annual Privacy, Security and Trust Conference.
This year, CIC started a monthly series called "Cyber Pulse by CIC" where guest speakers are invited to provide webinars related to privacy, cybersecurity and research. This will be an opportunity to learn from top experts as they cover the latest research, trends and best practices to protect your personal and professional data.
CIC also provides speakers to the Cybersecurity Revolution (SECREV) conference held annually in May. The conference is an open and inclusive event that streams discussions and presentations of cybersecurity research from locations around the world, following the sun from UTC 0:00 until midnight. It is absolutely free to attend.
Several CIC webinars and presentations are available on YouTube.
March 20th, 12pm AT: "Cyber Resilience in Water: Threats, Risks, and Solutions," by Gabriel Agboruche, Executive Director, OT & Cybersecurity, Jacobs.
Abstract: Through threat intelligence, cyber assessments, and remediation efforts, vulnerabilities and systemic risks that impact critical water infrastructure have been identified. This session would provide valuable insights into real-world risks, threat trends, and strategic mitigations to enhance cybersecurity resilience in the water sector world-wide.
March 5th, 12pm AT: "Trustworthy Innovation for the Real-World in the Era of Foundation Models," by Dr. Sirisha Rambatla, Assistant Professor, Univerity of Waterloo.
Abstract: For cybersecurity, the concept of "trust" is both foundational and multifaceted, influencing how systems are designed, deployed, and perceived. This talk will explore how trust can be cultivated across three critical dimensions. First, from a practitioner's perspective, we will examine methods to build interpretable models via sparse factor models and demystify complex "black-box" algorithms via model-agnostic feature interaction detection and attribution to ensure that AI-driven decisions are transparent and reliable. Second, from a user’s standpoint, we will analyze the role of trust in combating misinformation—whether propagated through social media via an example of Covid-19 misinformation spread and emerging threats like large language models in self-diagnosis — to highlight the challenges in healthcare and information reliability. Finally, we will shift focus to foundation models to tackle distribution shifts in real-world applications and discuss their future, to make them more efficient and accessible while tackling pivotal challenges to ensure their safe deployment. By bridging these perspectives, this talk aims to underscore trust as a cornerstone for advancing cybersecurity.
February 27th, 12pm AT: "Safeguarding Canadian Democracy: The Evolving Threat of Disinformation," by Dr. Shelly Ghai Bajaj, Postdoctoral Fellow, Univerity of Waterloo.
Abstract: This presentation examines the growing threat, spread, and impact of disinformation on Canada’s democracy. It examines the operational use of digital information spaces in the context of shifting geopolitical dynamics, emerging technologies, diversifying disinformation strategies and tools, the transnational spread of disinformation, and Canada’s vulnerabilities to foreign information manipulation and interference. The presentation emphasizes the need for a whole of society approach to countering the harms and impacts of disinformation in plural liberal democracies like Canada, considering policy responses required to cultivate democratic resilience in an increasingly complex digital information landscape.
