Durham College’s Centre for Cybersecurity supporting Ontario public sector in strengthening digital security

Ontario has set formal public sector standards focused on cyber security, artificial intelligence and personal privacy, and Durham College’s Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation is empowering organizations in navigating this important legislation.  

Enacted in 2024, Bill 194 (Strengthening Cyber Security and Building Trust in the Public Sector Act) applies to hundreds of public sector organizations including municipalities, healthcare networks, childcare centres, and K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions. 

The Centre for Cybersecurity has launched monthly online advisory courses — called Navigating Bill 194: Empowering Ontario’s Public Sector — which support public institutions in building resilient safeguards for AI, protecting client data, and maintaining public trust. 

“The Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation is helping organizations navigate the increasingly complex cybersecurity and compliance landscape by translating regulatory requirements into practical actions,” said Vibha Tyagi, Director, Applied Research for Research, Innovation and Training Services (RITS) at Durham College (DC). “We’re facilitating access to the expertise, tools, training, and support needed to overcome barriers such as high implementation costs, documentation and assessment burdens, and cybersecurity talent gaps.” 

As more employees embrace AI and other digital tools on a day-to-day basis, public sector organizations must implement actionable policies that maintain confidentiality and safety. 

“As cybersecurity and compliance requirements continue to evolve, it’s no longer just about having the right technology in place. It’s about making sure organizations have the right safeguards, clear guidelines, and accountability for how information is handled and how AI is used in everyday operations and decision-making,” said Sushant Katare, Senior Cybersecurity Manager at DC’s Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation.  

“This means protecting sensitive information, respecting privacy and legal obligations, and ensuring that people remain accountable for how these technologies are used,” he adds. “It’s not just a technological transformation; it’s also a fundamental shift in organizational behavior, governance, and responsibility.” 

Bill 194 protects organizations by forcing them to shift from a reactive state to a proactive, legally mandated framework of preparedness.  

Delivered by cybersecurity professionals, the centre’s three-hour course supports participants in gaining a high-level overview of Bill 194 and helps them assess their current organizational readiness and cybersecurity maturity while helping them identify where they stand in aligning with the bill’s requirements. 

The course is broken down into three modules focused on real-world case-based learning. The course instructor translates Bill 194 into plain language, walking through realistic municipal and public sector scenarios so attendees understand what the requirements may mean for programs, workflows, documentation, breach response, privacy reviews, and AI oversight. 

Katare says that once they have completed the primer course on Bill 194, participants may have questions on how to bridge the implementation gap in complying with the legislation. The Centre for Cybersecurity can continue to engage with attendees and their organizations to help them further. 

Services through the Centre include capacity building aimed at providing IT leaders with threat-modelling frameworks data protection safeguards, and governance toolkits tailored to public services as well as workforce training. The centre has already delivered specialized webinars to staff at more than 30 Ontario municipalities helping them elevate regional cybersecurity maturity and compliance readiness. 

“Organizations that prioritize cybersecurity are creating new opportunities to enhance services, save costs and deliver value to the communities they support,” said Katare. 

Take the next step towards stronger cybersecurity and connect with our experts. Learn more about DC’s Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation and join our next Navigating Bill 194: Empowering Ontario’s Public Sector session.