Protecting our digital future: Cyber Security Awareness Month 2025

Published: September 22, 2025

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month. Learn how to protect our digital future.

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month, a nationally recognized campaign highlighting the importance of information security.

At the University of Toronto, we use this month to share knowledge, tools and resources that help the tri-campus community stay safe online.

Cyber Security Awareness Month (Cyber Month) at U of T

This year’s theme is about protecting our digital future. Safeguarding the university’s data and systems helps protect everyone who learns, teaches, researches and works here.

Explore how U of T fosters a culture of digital trust and how each of us contributes to a secure, ethical and reliable digital environment.

Throughout October, we will provide resources, programs and events designed to expand our understanding of information security. You will have the opportunity to engage with security experts, access practical resources, and learn how to protect yourself and our community from digital threats.

This webpage will be updated regularly with news, tips, resources and event details to support your cyber security toolkit.

Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest updates and join us in building a safer digital future together.

Resources

Cyber Security Awareness Month 2025 articles

Throughout October, we will be sharing resources aligned with our 2025 theme, protecting our digital future. Explore these articles to learn about information security initiatives at U of T, the supports available to you and how we can work together to safeguard our digital future.

General resources

Campaign digital assets

The U of T community can access a variety of digital media assets, including social media graphics and copy, virtual backgrounds, digital screen signage and more.

Government of Canada resources

Get Cyber Safe has published a variety of resources to help Canadians step up their cyber fitness to protect themselves online.

Cyber Security Awareness Month events

Information security awareness booth

Oct. 1, 2025, 11 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: Bahen Centre for Information Technology, the Atrium

All U of T community members are welcome.

Join U of T’s Information Security team at our booth to meet information security practitioners from across the tri-campus community. They’ll be available for conversations about the field, sharing best practices, safety tips and more.

There will also be interactive games, prizes and giveaways! No registration required.

Asset or adversary? AI and cyber security in 2025 and beyond  

Oct. 21, 2025, 11 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual (Microsoft Teams)

All U of T community members are welcome.

Join University of Toronto CIO Donna Kidwell and three international experts for a one-hour virtual panel exploring the intersection of AI and cyber security—and implications for digital trust. As AI becomes increasingly embedded in our digital systems, it offers us powerful tools but also presents new vulnerabilities. This session will unpack the implications of AI for information security, data integrity and institutional resilience in higher ed and beyond.

Panelists:

  • David Lie:
  • Patricia Thaine:
    • Co-founder and CEO of PrivateAI and University of Toronto alumna.
    • Specialist in privacy-preserving technologies and AI ethics.
  • Mickey Mancenido:
    • Associate professor of statistics at Arizona State University.
    • Human‑centered AI researcher and expert in statistical and human factors engineering.

Together, panelists will explore question such as:

  • What are our biggest challenges in safeguarding privacy and trust in an AI-driven world?
  • How can AI tools and techniques help us bolster our cyber security efforts? What role do powerful AI systems play in executing cyber threats and attacks?
  • What do we mean when we talk about human‑centered AI?
  • How does the intersection of AI and cyber security play out specifically in the higher ed context, where high-value data is plentiful? What can we do with that data to empower our communities? What can we do for that data to protect our communities?

All members of the University of Toronto community are welcome to join for accessible insights and practical takeaways. Bring your questions for the panelists!

Cyber security trivia

Oct. 24, 2025, 3 – 4 p.m.
Location: Virtual (Microsoft Teams)

All U of T community members are welcome.

Test your knowledge, challenge your peers and learn essential tips to stay cyber safe at our interactive cyber security trivia event. Hosted by Laurie Harrison, director, Digital Learning Innovation and Marden Paul, director, Planning, Governance & Assessment, this fun and engaging session will put your cyber smarts to the test with questions on security best practices, online privacy, emerging threats and more.

Whether you’re a trivia pro or just curious about improving your security know-how, this event is for you. Prizes await the top players.

Tabletop exercise

Oct. 28, 2025, 1 – 3 p.m.
Location: Virtual (Microsoft Teams)

For U of T staff and faculty.

Join U of T Mississauga’s Information & Instructional Technology Services (I&ITS) for a discussion-based exercise that strengthens the university’s ability to manage real-world threats.

Work through realistic scenarios that simulate cyber security incidents, explore roles and responsibilities, and practice decision-making in a collaborative setting. The exercise highlights cross-functional communication, escalation procedures and coordinated responses.

By the end, you’ll better understand U of T’s incident response framework, build confidence in handling incidents and help identify ways to improve preparedness.

Coffee with the CIO and CISO

Nov. 18, 2025, 10 – 11 a.m.
Location: UTSC, Arts & Administration Building, Room AA209

For U of T students.

Take a break, grab a coffee and join an informal conversation at U of T Scarborough with Dr. Donna K. Kidwell, chief information officer (CIO), and Deyves Fonseca, chief information security officer (CISO). This small-group session, limited to 20 students from across the tri-campus community, is your chance to ask questions, share ideas and learn about digital leadership and cyber security at U of T. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided, and registration is required.

Partner events

Ontario’s 2025 Cyber Security Summit: Securing Ontario’s Digital Future

Oct. 7 – 8, 2025
Location: Marriott Downtown at CF Toronto Eaton Centre

For executives and IT and cyber security professionals from across the Ontario Public Service (OPS) and Broader Public Sector (BPS).

Join Ontario’s public sector leaders, cyber experts, and industry innovators for two days of insight, strategy, and collaboration at the province’s premier cyber security event.

Hosted by the Ontario’s Cyber Security Centre of Excellence (COE), the 2025 summit will explore advancing digital fluency, tackling critical cyber challenges, and strengthening leadership to build a more resilient public sector.

Registration

This event is available for both in-person and virtual. To register for the event, visit the official event page.

Cybersecurity and AI: Legal and Ethical Challenges

Oct. 10, 2025
Live online

For senior leaders and managers, technology leads and in-house or corporate counsel.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the cybersecurity landscape—reshaping how threats are detected, systems are defended, and breaches are understood. At the same time, AI introduces new vulnerabilities, governance challenges, and legal ambiguities that organizations must confront head-on.

This intensive one-day symposium brings together legal experts, policymakers, privacy officers, and cybersecurity professionals to examine the legal, ethical, and strategic implications of AI in cybersecurity. Through a series of expert-led sessions and scenario-based exercises, participants will explore real-world risks and opportunities, regulatory pressures, and governance frameworks for responsible AI adoption in high-stakes digital environments.

Registration

To register for the event, visit the official event page.

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