Cybersecurity experts will join Windsor-Essex students, business owners, and IT professionals for an all-day discussion on preventing cyberattacks.
St. Clair College and siberX will host the Operation: Defend the North (ODTN) conference on Tuesday at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts in downtown Windsor.
The conference is expected to provide educators, technology gurus, and business executives with a forum on preparing businesses for the chance of cyberattacks, as well as handling attacks when they do happen.
The centrepiece will be a live tabletop exercise built around a fictional cyberattack involving the Windsor–Detroit Tunnel.
"ODTN provides a platform for leaders and practitioners to exchange best practices, discuss emerging threats, and develop strategies that support a safer and more secure digital ecosystem. Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility," said St. Clair College Chief Information and Chief Information Security Officer Amar Singh.
Siberx CEO Mahdi Raza says it's vital that a collaborative approach is in place should a cyberattack occur.
"We're bringing real-world challenges into the room and giving people a chance to see how quickly decisions need to be made, how different sectors depend on one another, and what it takes to keep a community moving when something goes wrong," said Raza.
ODTN is also making stops in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Ottawa.
Area high school students will take part in a separate, day-long hackathon during Young Defenders of the North, with teachers and student mentors available to help. Participants will also network with industry professionals.
ODTN will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
