UCalgary and Raytheon Canada partner to open new cybersecurity training centre

The University of Calgary is set to become a prime destination for information security and privacy research, thanks to a partnership with Calgary-based Raytheon Canada and ENFOCOM Corporation.

The Canadian Cyber Assessment, Training and Experimentation Centre (CATE) at UCalgary opened Thursday in partnership with the local Calgary company ENFOCOM. The Canadian CATE Centre is the first of its kind in the region, providing a multi-use facility for university and commercial use. It is part of a cybersecurity consortium between UCalgary, Raytheon Canada and ENFOCOM as the digital economy continues to rapidly grow in Alberta and across the country.

CATE is equipped with a state-of-the-art, highly automated cyber range, a virtual environment that supports a range of activities. CATE’s modular and scalable architecture can emulate complex real-world digital enterprises, such as cyber assessment, experimentation, and multi-purpose integration labs.

The facility supports students in building their skills in cybersecurity, learning agile scenario-based cyber training, in-depth assessment of cyber solutions and experimentation of new cyber resiliency concepts driven by emerging technologies.

“The Canadian CATE Centre will be a tremendous addition to our expanding research capacity in cybersecurity," says Dr. William Ghali, MD, vice-president (research) at the University of Calgary. "Access to a facility of this caliber will put our students, postdocs and faculty on the leading edge of their field, where they will help shape the future of cybersecurity.”

Students will begin using the cyber range in classes and labs in 2022.

“The CATE Centre will give our students access to state-of-the-art technology to help grow their skill sets in cybersecurity," says Dr. Kristin Baetz, PhD, dean of the Faculty of Science at UCalgary. "Students can enact a variety of curriculum-based scenarios to prepare, simulate, detect, analyze, contain, eradicate and recover from realistic cyberattacks.”

Facilities will be located in both Calgary and Ottawa, providing a virtual platform for collaboration across Canada. University students and members of the consortium are currently the primary users of CATE. Plans include engaging additional industry partners and all levels of Canadian governments.

"Raytheon Canada looks forward to our continued engagement in building a Canadian cyber ecosystem that enhances the skill sets of talented individuals expanding their knowledge in the field of cybersecurity,” adds Terry Manion, vice-president and general manager of Raytheon Canada

Building on solid pillars of cyber assessment, training and experimentation, the facilities will provide a technological advantage to Canada by developing specific skills organically and increasing cyber resiliency.

The Faculty of Science is currently offering advanced professional education through the new Master of Information Security and Privacy program.