HAMILTON, Ontario — Cybersecurity is one of the most pressing challenges facing municipalities today. That’s why the organizers of the 2025 Municipal Information Systems Association of Ontario (MISA Ontario) InfoSec Conference and Trade Show, held Oct. 27-29 at the Hamilton Convention Centre, decided to make their cybersecurity training something that attendees would never forget.
Enter the Cybersecurity Challenge Escape Room, a new feature at this year’s show. This fast-paced, gamified simulation tested participants’ ability to detect phishing campaigns, analyze hidden threats and respond to escalating cyberattacks under pressure.
MISA Ontario organizers partnered with siberX, a Canadian firm specializing in immersive cybersecurity training, and global cybersecurity training authority SANS Institute, to deliver this exclusive, hands-on experience, which blended technical depth with municipal-specific crisis scenarios.
“siberX has been hosting escape rooms across Canada. MISA wanted to add gamification, entertainment and fun but they wanted to have the cybersecurity theme stay intact,” Mahdi Raza, siberX Founder & CEO, said.
The escape rooms were a huge success, he said. “The attendees loved it. People had to book a time slot and we were packed from start to finish.”
People posted photos online about the fun they had, created amusing names for their teams and walked away with t-shirts and swag. They also earned CEUs and received certificates of completion for participating.
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The training was designed as part of the nationally recognized Operation Defend the North series, a Canada-wide cybersecurity readiness exercise. Its goal is to strengthen national cyber resilience by having cybersecurity professionals, industry leaders and policymakers collaboratively respond to and mitigate simulated threats.
“As technology becomes more integral to municipal operations, it’s critical that staff receive strong cybersecurity training,” Max Shuftan, Director of Mission Programs & Partnerships, SANS Institute, said. “Local governments handle sensitive data and essential services, making them prime targets for cyberattacks. When employees know how to recognize and respond to threats, they become the community’s strongest defense.”
MISA Ontario attracted 350 attendees — municipal IT professionals — and more than 30 exhibitors. It was the largest MISA Ontario InfoSec Conference and Trade Show ever.
The next event, the 2026 MISA Ontario Annual Conference and Trade Show, will be held June 7-10 in London, Ontario.
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