Your Guide to SecTor 2025

Black Hat's SecTor (short for Security Education Conference Toronto) marks its 19th annual gathering in 2025.

Hosted at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from September 30th to October 2nd, SecTor is hailed as the largest cybersecurity event in Canada and is a standout conference in the global Black Hat portfolio. It serves both technical specialists and leadership-level professionals by offering hands-on sessions, forward-looking threat analysis, and peer-driven networking.

Let's dive into what to expect from this year's event:

SecTor 2025: Key Events and Programming

SecTor kicks off with three focused Summits, offering curated deep dives at the executive level:

• Executive Summit: Tailored for CISOs and senior leaders, this exclusive session offers strategy foresight, peer benchmarking, and candid industry dialogue in a confidential setting (Chatham House Rule). Rubrik sponsors this annual highlight

• AI Summit: Co-sponsored by CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, Abnormal Security, Okta, and Trend Micro, this second edition explores the dual nature of AI (both as a tool for defense and an avenue for emerging threats), thereby helping leaders responsibly implement AI at scale.

• Cloud Security Summit: Canada's flagship cloud security forum, led by Qualys, addresses cloud-native risk, resilience, and identity-driven controls, combining expert panels with peer networking.

Attending a Summit grants access to the main SecTor conference (Oct 1st and 2nd) with a Business Hall pass, unlocking keynotes, demos, and tool showcases.

Bonus: Register today using code PACKETLABS to redeem your complimentary Business Pass

Briefings: Cutting-Edge Technical Insights from October 1st to 2nd

Over two days, SecTor presenters unveil the latest in adversary tactics, malware analysis, exploit research, and applied defenses. Expect sessions such as:

• Hack_Canada.exe v4: Findings from a long-term study of Canadian government cybersecurity exposure—from misconfigured servers to legacy risks.

• Disinformation 2.0: How foreign influence operations are weaponizing behavioral patterns and social media to erode trust and influence organizational norms.

• Proof of Personhood? AI and Deepfakes: A glimpse into the future of digital identity verification and its vulnerabilities in high-stakes environments like healthcare, finance, and government.

All Briefings are recorded and available on-demand beginning October 9th, with access included in Briefings Passes.

Bonus: Register today using our code PACKETLABS for $100 off your Briefings Pass

Business Hall and Arsenal: What to Know

Intermission between sessions? Head to the Business Hall for product showcases, sponsor booths, and interactive demos.

This year, the Arsenal Track re-opens in February with 40 live tool demos and labs, spotlighting open-source tools and practical cybersecurity resources for cloud, reverse engineering, and exploitation.

Why Attend SecTor 2025?

• Curated Thought Leadership: With a pure content-driven ethos, the conference ensures that nothing is market fluff—especially in its management and technical tracks.

• Unbeatable Networking: Connect with global experts, innovation drivers, and privately invited CISOs to shape the future of cybersecurity in collaborative, solution-focused environments.

• Access to Black Hat Knowledge: As part of the Black Hat event family, SecTor offers a refined, regionally-attuned experience built on world-class security best practices.

Action Plan: How to Get the Most Out of SecTor

• Pick Your Summit: Choose between executive strategy, cloud security, or AI deep dive depending on your role and focus.

• Deepen Your Technical Edge: Attend Briefings for the latest threat intelligence and applied research.

• Actively Engage in Demos: Visit the Arsenal Track and Business Hall to test new tools and connect with innovators.

• Connect Authentically: Leverage networking opportunities at Summits and hands-on sessions to build meaningful partnerships.

Conclusion

From forward-looking leadership forums to hands-on technical deep dives, SecTor 2025 offers something for every cybersecurity professional. Whether you're a CISO looking for strategic insight or a technologist hungry for new tools, this event is geared to elevate your thinking and your defense.

Be sure to visit the Packetlabs team at Booth #630.