Operation Defend the North 2025:
Strengthening Ottawa’s Cyber Defenses
Operation Defend the North (ODTN) 2025 brought together a specialized group of cybersecurity professionals and innovators for a focused event dedicated to practical defense strategies and executive leadership. The event took place at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Ottawa, providing a hub for collaboration and knowledge exchange within the Canadian capital’s security community.
Overall Highlights and Themes
The 2025 forum emphasized both technical innovation and strategic governance, reflecting the dual pressures facing modern security teams. Key discussions likely revolved around:
Cyber Resilience and Innovation:
Experts like Alex Dow (Chief Innovations Officer at Mirai Security) and JF Provost (Malvik Security) likely covered advanced defensive tactics and leveraging new technologies to stay ahead of threats.
Executive and Operational Leadership:
With participation from CISOs like Bill Dunnion (Mitel) and George Al-Koura (Ruby), a major theme was the integration of security into overall business operations and mitigating risk at the executive level.
GRC and Regulatory Compliance:
The presence of Shruti Mukherjee (Director of GRC at GlobalVision) signaled a focus on effective Governance, Risk, and Compliance frameworks, which are critical for Canadian organizations.
Speakers and Sponsors
Speakers: The lineup featured a mix of chief security officers, directors, and innovation leaders. Key presenters included Ali Abbas Hirji, the event’s Chair of Operation from siberX, and Kevin Parent (Orion), providing local expertise on cybersecurity challenges in Ontario. The sessions ensured a balanced view between technical implementation and high-level strategy.
Sponsors:
The event received strong support from a range of security vendors and professional organizations. Notable sponsors included major defense and analytics firms like BITDEFENDER, DARKTRACE, and SPLUNK > A CAISO COMPANY. The presence of CYBERGAMIFIED and ESCAPEROOM suggests the event incorporated interactive, hands-on, and engaging training components to reinforce learning. Other key partners included AFCEA, CYBERBPO, ELCH, and IMMERSIVE.
YouTube Playlist
Related video content, including potential session highlights or interviews from Operation Defend the North 2025, can be found on the organizer’s YouTube channel. Please check the playlists available at https://www.youtube.com/@siberxorg/playlists.
