Cybersecurity was in the spotlight at Niagara College in mid-November as information technology professionals from across Ontario gathered for the largest certified training program of its kind in the province.

The three-day Chief Information Security Officer Certification program took place between November 14 and 16 at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus. Organized by ORION (Ontario’s research and education network) and the Ontario College Council of CIOs (OCCCIO), the cybersecurity leadership training aimed to advance security expertise in Ontario.

Participants listen as teaching takes place for the Security Officer Certification program, held from November 14 to 16 at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus (Benchmark restaurant).

Led by Joe Voje, a chief information security officer for Oregon Health and Science University, the EC-Council certification taught executive-level security management techniques used by top chief information security officers at organizations around the world.

NC’s chief technology officer John Levay took a lead role at bringing the training to NC.  Three of NC’s ITS staff members joined staff from all Ontario colleges and several Ontario universities.

“ORION is a valued partner that provides awareness, training and support in cybersecurity leadership,” said Levay. “Through this event, ORION and OCCCIO will support and advance cybersecurity leadership in Ontario’s research, education and innovation sectors.”

As part of the ORION Shared Chief Information Security Office pilot project, Levay has been a strong advocate for security in higher education and that NC is a leader in the college sector for facilitating cyber security collaboration.  Levay noted that the idea of hosting the event at Benchmark was well received.  “Everyone jumped at this – all colleges participated and most sent two people,” he said, noting that five universities and the Niagara Health System sent participants as well.

Levay accepted an award for OCCCIO on the final day of the conference for co-hosting the largest CCISO training in Canada.

Participants from all Ontario colleges and some Ontario universities attended the Chief Information Security Officer Certification program held at Niagara College.

View the press release by  EC-Council (world wide IT security certification group), Orion (Ontario Research and Innovation Optical Network and the Ontario College Council of CIOs (OCCCIO) below:

ORION and EC-Council team up to bring Certified Chief Information Security Officer Certification to Ontario’s IT Professionals

TORONTO, Ontario – ORION is working with EC-Council and the Ontario College Council of Chief Information Officers (OCCCIO) to bring quality cybersecurity leadership training to advance security expertise in Ontario. The three-day hybrid program, beginning November 14, hosted at Niagara College, teaches executive-level security management techniques used by top Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) who are leading some of the world’s strongest organizations’ security programs.

ORION is working with EC-Council, as their Accredited Training Partner in Ontario, to offer this state-of-the-art cybersecurity certification. On behalf of its 24 community college members, OCCCIO worked with ORION to bring EC-Council’s Certified CISO (CCISO) training to their members at a reduced rate. The training involves participants from all Ontario Colleges, several Universities and a local Health network all of whom are part of ORION’s private network.

During the program, attendees will be challenged to use metrics to communicate risks for different audiences, describe how to align given security programs with goals of a business, among other exercises. The program also covers strategic and financial management–vital skills CISOs should possess to resourcefully manage budgets and assets for security projects.

Joe Voje, a Chief Information Security Officer with over 24 years of industry experience, will teach the program. He is currently a CISO for Oregon Health and Science University and was previously awarded the 2017 Top 100 Global CISOs.

“At ORION, our mission is to support research, education, and innovation in Ontario through digital infrastructure. As such, one of our goals is to improve cybersecurity posture in our campuses, workplaces, and our communities,” explains Farooq Naiyer, ORION’s Chief Information Security Officer. “Supporting OCCCIO in this way is to support and improve cybersecurity leadership in Ontario.”

In Canada, there is a shortage of information security leaders who understand the organizational information security risks and that can build and implement an information security roadmap for their organizations. ORION aims to close the gap by providing IT professionals the opportunity to learn and refine the security management principles built from an executive management point of view. This CCISO workshop provides current and prospective cybersecurity leaders the skillsets they need to develop a strong cybersecurity strategy and infrastructure for their respective organizations.

“ORION is a valued partner that provides awareness and training in cybersecurity leadership,” explains John Levay, Chief Information Officer at Niagara College. “Through this event, ORION and OCCCIO will support and advance cybersecurity leadership in Ontario’s research, education and innovation sectors.”

About EC-Council

International Council of E-Commerce Consultants, also known as EC-Council, is the world’s largest cybersecurity technical certification body operating in 145 countries globally and the owner and developer of the world-famous Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Computer Hacking Forensics Investigator (C|HFI), Certified Security Analyst (ECSA), License Penetration Testing (Practical) programs, among others. EC-Council has trained and certified over 300,000 information security professionals globally that have influenced the cybersecurity mindset of countless organizations worldwide.For more information about EC-Council, please visit: www.eccouncil.org.

About OCCCIO

The Ontario College Council of Chief Information Officers (OCCCIO) was established to further the strategic and operational goals and objectives of Chief Information Officers and other IT leaders of each member institution, which is comprised of 24 community colleges within Ontario.

For more information about OCCCIO, please visit: occcio.ca/.

About ORION

ORION is a not-for-profit organization committed to actively supporting Ontario’s researchers, educators and innovators. Since 2001, we’ve facilitated new discoveries and learning by connecting institutions and regions, enabling collaboration, forging partnerships, and providing our community with the digital tools they need to make the world a better place.