On October 24, experts will explore how startups can develop solutions adapted to the realities of OT environments.
Ontario's critical industries are under increasing pressure from a turbulent global economy and an increasingly hostile digital arena, and many are finding that the legacy systems they rely on are unable to handle today's cyber threats.
In sectors such as advanced manufacturing, mining and smart infrastructure, operational technology (OT) controls everything from electrical networks To hospital equipmentand the risks to these systems are no longer theoretical.
“OT is a category that requires special attention and in-depth conversation.”
Connie Tang, Rogers Cybersecurity Catalyst
According to experts in Rogers, Cybersecurity CatalystMetropolitan University of Toronto's national center for cybersecurity education, innovation and collaboration, providing businesses large and small with the latest security offerings. The same systems that keep the lights on and the machines running are now attracting the attention of increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals.
Experts warn that vulnerabilities in OT environments cannot be protected with traditional IT security, leaving critical infrastructure exposed that few organizations are equipped to handle.
“Cybersecurity Awareness Month reminds us that threats to our digital and industrial systems affect everything from agriculture to public safety,” says Connie Tang, director of public sector and small business for the Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst at the University of Toronto. “OT is a category that requires special attention and in-depth conversation.”
The Catalyst believes this gap represents a huge and largely untapped opportunity for the province's startups. While large organizations struggle to modernize systems that have been in place for decades, young companies can move faster, test new approaches, and build custom tools that meet the complex realities of OT environments.
On October 24, Catalyst will explore this opportunity in a free webinar, How Ontario Startups Can Solve the OT Security Challenge, designed to help early-stage companies understand and innovate on one of the province's most pressing cybersecurity challenges.
The session will feature presentations from leading experts who will talk about the risks facing industries today and how startups can tailor solutions for these high-stakes environments.
The event takes place during Cybersecurity Awareness Month as part of Catalyst's year-round efforts to build a thriving security sector in Ontario.
Central to this work is Cyber challenge program offered Rogers, Cybersecurity Catalyst in partnership with Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange and is supported in part by the Government of Ontario.
The program plays a central role in helping startups “test real-world problems, such as OT vulnerabilities, and scale cutting-edge solutions that strengthen Canadian resilience,” Tang said.
With old technologies come consolidated processes, and the approach of the three-month competition is to offer personalized, tailored guidance to technology organizations on common risks and practical solutions.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and entrepreneurs receive $20,000 in non-dilutive funding while diving deep into IP strategy through go-to-market messaging, with the opportunity to test their products directly with potential customers.
The movement towards better cybersecurity solutions is gaining momentum. The first 10 startups to enter the second phase of the Cyber Challenge have raised nearly $3 million in funding, generated $2.45 million in new sales, and filed six new intellectual property applications.
But starting a cybersecurity company is rarely easy. Eldon Sprickerhoff, founder of eSentire and now an advisor to Catalyst, remembers how isolating the early stages of this journey can be.
“When I founded eSentire, programs like this simply did not exist; you had to put together the funding, mentorship and market access on your own,” Sprickerhoff said.
Now, when it comes to mentorship, Sprickerhoff sees what he once needed most. “What makes the Cyber Challenge so rare is that it brings all of these elements together in one place and does so with a focus on solving real-world cybersecurity problems in mission-critical industries,” he added.
The Cyber Challenge aims to help startups move from roadblocks to market-ready solutions across seven sectors including smart infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and life sciences. It begins with a preparatory phase, in which accepted companies work to identify a specific cybersecurity issue in one of seven software sectors, and then move on to phase two.
In the next three-month phase of the program, 10 startups will receive $20,000 in non-dilutive funding and benefit from an intensive cycle of mentorship and curated programming. Industry experts work closely with founders to refine their go-to-market strategies, improve sales messaging, and address intellectual property issues including IoT security, supply chain integrity, and data privacy.
Ontario's critical systems are being upgraded faster than their defenses. The Cyber Challenge and Catalyst webinar on October 24 aims to bridge this gap by connecting founders with the industries most in need of new ideas and the support to implement them.
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The webinar, How Ontario Startups Can Solve the OT Security Challenge, will take place on October 24th. Secure your place here.
Photos courtesy of Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst.
