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For those prioritizing cybersecurity in 2023 and beyond, SecTor 2023 is one of the must-attend conferences.

Marking its 17th year, SecTor–hosted by Black Hat– brings together IT security professionals, managers, and executives to enhance their cybersecurity knowledge and network with some of the industry’s best and brightest.

Here’s how to make the most of SecTor (and what else to know as you plan your travel):

Need-to-Know SecTor Conference Highlights

Known as one of Canada’s leading cybersecurity conferences, SecTor has built a reputation of bringing together experts from around the world to share their latest research and techniques involving both underground threats and corporate defenses. 

As an event, it grants unparalleled opportunity for managers, executives, and IT security professionals to network and learn from one another. Some of these opportunities include, but aren’t limited to:

• Canada’s Premiere CISO Event: The 2023 SecTor Executive Summit grants CISOs and cybersecurity executives the chance to hear directly from industry experts. Together, they evaluate the existing tech used to stay ahead of adversaries and provide a sneak peek into future or up-and-coming platforms to better protect organizations’ data

• The Cloud Security Summit: The Cloud Security Summit is considered one of Canada’s best cloud-related security events, featuring a blend of expert keynote speakers and panel discussions

• Training Sessions: SecTor offers a variety of both in-person and virtual training sessions to help deepen professionals’ understanding of various hacking techniques, tools, and fundamentals. Designed for security specialists, these fast-paced courses promise to shift “knowledge and skills up another gear”

• Briefings: The briefings at SecTor strive to teach the latest information security risks and trends, with researchers sharing their developments on a range of cybersecurity topics

• The Career Panel and Career Fair: The interactive Q&A and career fair grants cybersecurity professionals (and soon-to-be-professionals) the chance to hear from public, private, and government thought leaders as they share their hands-on experiences of working within the industry. Attendees will be given advice, tips and resources to better understand how their individual skill sets can benefit them in the cybersecurity industry 

• The SecTor Business Hall: As Canada’s largest IT security expo, their business hall is one for the records–connect with professional security practitioners, chat with solution providers, and and learn from the best in their free-to-attend Business Hall Sessions

Last-call registration ends October 26th! Ensure you get your tickets before it’s too late.

What’s New at SecTor 2023

As if all the cybersecurity happenings above weren’t enough, SecTor is unveiling two new offerings for the event: their Arsenal Lab and their penetration testing certification exam.

Being held over the course of two days (October 25th and 26th) in the Business Hall, SecTor’s Arsenal Lab has invited renowned researchers from the open-source sector to display their myriad open-source tools, processes, and techniques in an interactive and hands-on showcase. Security professionals of all skill levels are invited to learn from these otherwise difficult-to-access specializations.

Meanwhile, between the 23rd and the 24th, the full-day intermediate Black Hat Certified Pentester (BCPen) exam is open to registered pentesters, red and blue team professionals, SOC analysts, and more. Conducted virtually, this new exam promises to cover a wide range of methodologies in order to deepen knowledge. 

Where is SecTor Held?

SecTor takes place in the Metro Toronto Convention Center (MTCC) in downtown Toronto. It’s split into three main components: trainings, briefings, and its business hall.

Located at the heart of downtown Toronto, the MTCC is hailed as Canada's leading convention and trade show facility. It features 442,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, 77 meeting rooms, numerous multi-purpose ballrooms, and a theater equipped for both performing arts and corporate events.

Where to Stay Around the Metro Toronto Convention Center

Because the MTCC is easily accessible by car, Uber, and public transportation–what with the Union Station Bus Terminal, Toronto Union Station, and other terminals less than five minutes away–there are no shortage of accommodation options for those not local to the area.

Just some of the hotels near the Metro Toronto Convention Center include:

• The Delta Hotels (located at: 75 Lower Simcoe Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 3A6)

• The Bisha Hotel (located at: 80 Blue Jays Way, Toronto, Ontario M5V 2G3, Canada)

• The InterContinental Toronto Center (located at: 225 Front Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2X3 Canada)

• The Fairmont Royal York (located at: 100 Front Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5J 1E3, Canada)

• And the Toronto Marriott City Center Hotel (located at: One Blue Jays Way, Toronto, Ontario M5V 1J4, Canada)

Things to Do Around the Metro Toronto Convention Center

Whether you’re visiting Toronto for the first time or the tenth time–or even if you’re local to Ontario, like the majority of the team here at Packetlabs–there is no shortage of activities to do and sights to see. 

We interviewed our ethical hackers, and some of their favorite things to do around the Metro Toronto Convention Center are:

The Art Gallery of Ontario

Nestled in Toronto’s bustling downtown core, the Art Gallery of Ontario is considered a hot spot for artists and pop culture enthusiasts alike. 

Founded in 1900, the museum’s collection spans all the way from 100 A.D. to today. The exhibits come in a rainbow of different forms, from music to film (and everything in between.)

Popular exhibitions have displayed the works of David Bowie, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and even late musician David Bowie. 

The CN Tower

Standing at a staggering 1,815 ft, the CN Tower is the tallest free-standing structure in the Western hemisphere–and, of course, one of Toronto’s most popular attractions.

Some fun facts about the CN tower include:

• The Tower took 40 months to build (and cost a whopping $63 million)

• Its 36- Restaurant takes 72 minutes to complete a revolution 

• The Tower weights 117,910 metric tonnes–which equates to 16,844 elephants

• In 1995, it was classified as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World

Whether you dare to dangle off the Tower’s edge on the Edgewalk or indulge in some of the best dishes Toronto has to offer, our team says you can’t go wrong at the CN Tower–especially if this will be your first time in Toronto.

The St. Lawrence Market Complex 

In the center of historic Old Town Toronto sits the St. Lawrence Market Complex: three buildings that have acted as Toronto’s social hub, city hall, and key marketplace. 

Brimming with eateries, food vendors, galleries, farmer’s markets, and even business functions, swinging by the St. Lawrence Market Complex is a must for those who are interested in its rich 200-year history. For those who are interested in walking tours, Kensington Market is also a fantastic option.

What to Expect From Packetlabs as a SecTor 2023 Attendee 

This year, Packetlabs is thrilled to be both sponsoring and attending SecTor.

Don’t miss out on visiting us at booth S624 to discover our unmatched approach to penetration testing, how cybersecurity improves your bottom line, and how it’s designed to secure you against even the most stealthy of cyber threats.

Who you’ll get to meet:

• Our founder, Richard Rogerson

• Our knowledgeable and friendly Sales team 

• Some of our talented ethical hackers that make our 95% manual pentesting methodology possible

(As a bonus, we’ll have a variety of limited-time-only swag –all personally curated by our team.)

Be sure to stop by our booth to become eligible for our SecTor-only pricing, which can be applied to select services. 

Conclusion

SecTor 2023 is rife with both networking and learning opportunities–and, with cybercrime seeing a 600% increase since 2021, there is no better time to take advantage. 

Regardless of whether you’re able to make it to this year’s event, be sure to book your zero-obligation call with our team to learn how to make the most of SecTor 2023's takeaways and cybersecurity trends.