Understand how AI is reshaping cyber threats—and how to defend and govern responsibly

Description

AI is reshaping both sides of the cyber battlefield. In this course, you’ll discover how adversaries use AI for phishing, deepfakes, and adversarial malware—and how defenders can fight back with AI copilots, automated detection, and governance frameworks like Responsible AI. By engaging with practical examples and discussions, you’ll learn to see AI not as an abstract buzzword but as a real and immediate challenge. This course equips you to evaluate risks, respond intelligently, and set governance strategies that prepare organizations for AI-driven threats.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Identify and categorize AI-enabled cyber threats.
  • Apply AI-enhanced tools for detection and defense.
  • Evaluate Responsible AI governance strategies.
  •  Explain the implications of adversarial AI for cybersecurity

Duration

6 hours

Contact our coordinator to be notified when the course is available

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Instructor

 

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Alan McCafferty is a Senior Business Analyst, Cyber Security SME, Program Director, and Executive Advisor with over 25 years of experience across public organizations, not-for-profits, start-ups, and multinational corporations. Educated in Canada, the USA, and Europe, he brings expertise in InfoSec, Engineering, Business, Risk Management, and Lean Six Sigma.

A prolific author of over 25 white papers and recipient of the Canada Award for Excellence, Alan has led mission-critical IT projects exceeding $1 billion. As founder of The Strategic Consulting Group (SCG), he has developed innovative tools for knowledge management, risk management, Threat Risk Assessments (TRA), and Privacy Impact Assessments (PIA), delivering transformative solutions for Fortune 500 companies, healthcare organizations, government departments, and not-for-profits.

At the uOttawa PDI, Alan serves as the Director of the Advanced Information and Cyber Security Management Program and the technical lead for the Information Integrity Lab. He also manages one of only four advanced cyber ranges of its kind in the world.

Known for driving innovation and implementing strategic solutions, Alan empowers organizations to excel in risk management, enterprise planning, and information security.

 

 

Mark Hearn is a seasoned Business Leader and technical Product Management executive, bringing technology and business together to solve market problems for over 25 years. Mark’s expertise in software security and anti-reverse engineering has helped industry leaders solve critical product security issues with innovation and minimized risk. As a product security evangelist, Mark has spoken at many industry conferences and engaged in panel discussions on the need to protect software products from attack. He is an expert on the business risks associated with reverse engineering and the critical impact that hacking could have for manufacturers, and for their customers. Mark has held executive roles in product management and strategic market development, developing expertise in both the business-critical and technical functions related to business strategy, use/abuse cases, technical requirements, competitive analysis, and security threat-risk analysis.

 

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Trust an Unbiased Global View

This course is technology- and policy-agnostic. It is designed, structured, and delivered based on a blend of learning processes and real-world experiences. This ensures you get a truly unbiased world view of universally applicable information and cybersecurity principles and practices presented from a neutral, Canadian perspective.

Access a Continuum of Learning

By completing the Information and Cybersecurity Management Certificate program, you will have what you need to transition to additional learning in the field or bridge to other programs offered by PDI.

The Information and Cybersecurity Management Program is an integral part of a continuum of learning ecosystem in security, cybersecurity, and other disciplines offered by the University of Ottawa Professional Development Institute (uOttawa PDI). The knowledge, skills, and abilities you acquire through this program are complementary to other offerings in PDI’s security portfolio, including:

Financial Intelligence Specialist Program

National Security and Intelligence Advance Certificate

Coding for Veterans

Cyber Skills for Canadians

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