In 2016, Opportunities NB (ONB) visited Israel to learn how to best model that country’s world-leading cybersecurity approach. The result was the creation of an ecosystem that now stands among the world’s best. New Brunswick is an industry leader in Canada and worldwide thanks to our focus on extensive partnerships, talent development, and an industry cluster of leading businesses of all sizes.

ONB continues its efforts to attract leading companies from that sector to the province and help existing New Brunswick cybersecurity firms grow. The past year has seen exciting new additions to the province’s cybersecurity sector, with several companies either establishing a New Brunswick footprint or growing their existing ones.

ONB’s focus on servicing clients long after investments have been made is driving more companies to effectively leverage our full suite of services, notably our Client Engagement Team. Client engagement specialists leverage their network of professionals to connect clients with programs, decision-makers, and other leaders to find local and international skilled talent and connect with new graduates.

Below is a look at some of the most notable cybersecurity-related stories from recent months.

Thales Group

ONB successfully attracted Thales Group’s Canadian National Digital Excellence Centre (NDEC) to New Brunswick in spring 2023. The NDEC will ultimately employ more than 110 tech workers, and, as the first of its kind in Canada, represents an exciting multi-stakeholder research and talent development hub.

“New Brunswick is an ideal place for Thales to invest and grow in Canada, where we are among the Top 100 corporate R&D investors,” said Thales Canada CEO Chris Pogue. “Together, we will collaborate across a talent-rich innovation value chain — educational institutions, academia, startups, small and medium-sized businesses, industry, and governments — to develop the cyber technologies, capabilities and resilience Canada needs to build a future we can all trust.”

Bulletproof

ONB announced support for Fredericton-based cybersecurity IT firm Bulletproof via a payroll rebate that will help triple Bulletproof’s New Brunswick workforce by 2027, creating 240 full-time jobs.

“For over 20 years, Bulletproof has been providing information technology, security and compliance solutions and guidance to businesses, small and large, in various industries,” said president and chief operating officer Steven Burns. “We are well positioned for this major expansion in our value stream offerings, which will lead to employment growth in this region to support export sales and services.”

Armour Cybersecurity

Armour Cybersecurity, a Toronto-based cybersecurity firm took its first steps into New Brunswick with support from an ONB agreement in late 2023. The company plans to create up to 17 new high-skilled cybersecurity positions in the province. The company is meeting regularly with ONB client engagement specialists to meet its hiring target.

MNP

ONB is working with MNP to see them create 100 full-time jobs over three years, expanding its workforce to enhance its bilingual services through newly created digital delivery centres of excellence in Saint John, Moncton, and Fredericton. The centres will provide services to public and private sector clients in the areas of artificial intelligence, data and analytics, managed IT services, cybersecurity and privacy, and more.

“Our continued investment in New Brunswick is an enhancement of our digital service offerings and addresses the growing market demand,” said Sean Murphy, partner and national digital solutions leader for MNP Digital. “We are committed to leveraging our deep industry expertise in collaboration with ONB, to drive innovation and digital transformation in the region – and to build a digital powerhouse in New Brunswick.”

Kyndryl

ONB is helping to accelerate Kyndryl’s presence in the province as they look to add 43 positions by the end of 2025. Kyndryl’s offerings include hybrid cloud solutions, as well as cybersecurity, resiliency, data, and artificial intelligence services.

“This partnership is part of our commitment to supporting the province’s focus on fostering local tech talent, creating meaningful jobs, and improving workforce skills training,” said Kyndryl Canada president Farhaz Thobani. “We are leveraging the growing and diverse tech labour force in New Brunswick and its hotbed of cybersecurity talent to help organizations modernize, transform, and grow. We are proud to contribute to the province becoming a world-renowned information technology hub while advancing a dynamic and inclusive digital future in the region.”

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New Brunswick is a leader in Canada’s cybersecurity industry. To become a part of this sector see the contact information at the bottom of our cybersecurity sector page.