Mailing Address: 103-918 16 Ave NW, Calgary, AB   T2M 0K3

Feb. 17, 2026 – Cybersecurity Certifications: How to choose?

Join us this month as Mitch Garvis helps you cut through the noise and choose the right cybersecurity certifications for your career.

 

ABOUT OUR EVENT

There are so many different cybersecurity certifications available that it can be confusing for IT professionals to know which is right for them. In this session Mitch Garvis will cover the basics, including where we should all start, and hopefully give you a better idea of where you might want to end up. Learn from a trainer who spends much of his time consulting in and teaching cybersecurity and bring your questions!

By the end of this presentation, you should have a clear understanding of

  • The different certification bodies, and what they offer
  • Which certification or certifications are right for you, and
  • How to get from where you are to where you want to be.

ABOUT OUR PRESENTERS

Mitch Garvis

Mitch Garvis has worn many hats in the field of Information Technology, including consultant, engineer, architect, manager, and technology evangelist. Through it all, he has been a firm believer in educating, and in doing things securely. He has been a longtime proponent of certifications and has sat over 120 certification exams over the last 25 years. He has even passed a few of them! Among his qualifications he is an ISC2 Authorized Instructor, a Microsoft Certified Trainer, and an AI Certified Trainer. He holds senior cybersecurity certifications from ISC2, ISACA, Microsoft, CompTIA, Cloud Security Alliance and Mile2. In his spare time, he is also a certified cigar sommelier.

 

EVENT DETAILS

Registration links for the virtual event will only be sent to those registered.

Event  links for the virtual event will only be sent to those registered. Event Registration closes 5:00 pm MT on Tuesday,February 17, 2026.

Date:                 Tuesday, February 20, 2026

Times:              All times shown are Mountain Time

                            6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (5:30 pm Welcoming – Event start at 6:00 PM) – Doors will be locked at 6:00 PM with no late admissions.

Place:              Online via Microsoft Teams

Cost:                 Current CIC Members & Guests: FREE

Please register via Eventbrite.

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS

Platinum Sponsor

Microsoft Canada

Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Inc. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq “MSFT”), the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential Microsoft Canada Inc. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq “MSFT”), the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Recognized as one of Canada’s Great Places to Work, Microsoft Canada Inc. provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services. Headquartered in Mississauga, Microsoft Canada has nine regional offices across the country dedicated to empowering people through great software. Microsoft Canada is a creative workplace which attracts the best and brightest talent in the IT industry who bring an ever evolving vision of the future to reality.

Microsoft software helps businesses and consumers to reach their full potential, however they define it. Woven throughout daily life, whether it be work or play, Microsoft technologies flourish when they get into the hands of millions of Canadian partners and customers enabling innovation often in new ways.

Microsoft Canada is equally passionate about committing to Canadian communities. Since its inception, Microsoft Canada has had a corporate giving philosophy that goes beyond financial donations to champion inventive forms of philanthropy. For more information on how Microsoft Canada has joined forces with organizations across Canada to make a difference and invest in local communities visit microsoft.ca/citizenship.

As a registered not-for-profit association, CIC has met the qualification requirements for discounted and donated Microsoft software distributed through TechSoup Canada. Microsoft has donated 10 Office 365 Business Premium subscriptions plus 25 Office 365 E1 subscriptions for CIC’s internal use. This software is used by CIC for operational and administrative purposes.

Silver Sponsor

True North Group Inc

True North Group Inc. provides Canadian integrated cloud, managed IT and security services as well as professional IT consulting services to small and mid-market enterprises.

True North Group provides door prizes at many events as well as contributions toward CIC’s operational funding.