Government of Canada Expands Investment in Advanced Cybersecurity Training for ASEAN Members

Executive Summary

• Global Affairs Canada will provide CAD $226,000 to BlackBerry and Malaysia’s MCMC to train 100 ASEAN government and civil‑society cyber‑defenders at the Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (CCoE) in Cyberjaya.
• The two‑year program expands Canada’s Indo‑Pacific cybersecurity commitment, building on a prior CAD $3.9 million investment announced in 2024 and targeting a total of ~3,500 participants across ASEAN with a 25% women quota.
• BlackBerry and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) signed a multi‑year MoU to develop cyber‑leadership and embedded‑software engineering talent; the CCoE is also receiving infrastructure upgrades (high‑performance labs, SOC simulator, “war room”).

Key Details

• Funding Amount: CAD $226,000 from Global Affairs Canada.
• Purpose: Upskill and train ASEAN cyber‑defenders; cover training costs for 100 participants (government & select civil‑society professionals).
• Duration: Two‑year investment; first courses start November 2025.
• Training Schedule:
• ASEAN Week – Feb 9‑13 2026 (five‑day intensive, non‑technical and technical tracks, SOC Analyst Fundamentals).
• Dedicated Women’s Program for 10 candidates, in partnership with Toronto Metropolitan University’s Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst (“the Catalyst”).
• Overall Target: ~3,500 participants across ASEAN; aim for ≥25% women.
• Previous Investment: CAD $3.9 million announced in 2024 for cybersecurity training and education.
• MoU Signed: BlackBerry & Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) – multi‑year education partnership to develop cyber‑leaders and embedded software engineers.
• Facility Enhancements: Installation of high‑performance labs, a cyber “war room,” Security Operations Centre (SOC) simulator, and interactive kiosks at the MCMC‑BlackBerry CCoE.
• Training Capacity Since 2024: Over 5,500 individuals trained; >36,000 training hours delivered; >55 courses offered with partners SANS, ISC², CompTIA, EC‑Council.

Notable Quotes

• “Our new government is investing in the Canadian ingenuity that powers and secures economies worldwide… This investment supports BlackBerry – a Canadian success story – in strengthening its global leadership.” – The Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada
• “The MCMC and BlackBerry Cybersecurity Center of Excellence is a vital hub for developing cyber talent both nationally and across the region…” – John Giamatteo, CEO, BlackBerry