The SecDev Group

The SecDev Group is a Canadian data-centric risk consultancy that focuses on leveraging open data, and open-source intelligence. The group previously operated out of Cambridge University under the name of the Advanced Network Research Group.[1] Their work focuses on the intersection of cyberspace with social and political change, and draws on social media and public data sources, field research, and other monitoring tools.

The group's CEO is Rafal Rohozinski,[2][3] who was also instrumental in the development of Psiphon, a software application that allows people living in closed societies to access censored information.[4]

The SecDev Group monitors and produces research reports on the cyber environment in diverse countries and regions,</ref>[5][6] and tracks "the emergence of cyberspace as a strategic domain." It was also one of the founding institutional partners of the OpenNet Initiative and the Information Warfare Monitor.

One of SecDev's seminal reports is "Tracking Ghostnet," which was one of the first to uncover the details of Chinese actors' cyberespionage activities.[7] The report, which was conducted jointly with researchers from the University of Toronto Citizen Lab, led to dozens of newspaper articles and preceded the more thorough exposition of cyberespionage activities by actors in China, including by hackers thought to be associated with the People's Liberation Army.

SecDev contributed to the development of Canada's policy on cyberspace that included preparing a policy paper in 2012 for the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs entitled, Canada and Cyberspace: Key issues and challenges, that framed core issues for Canada's foreign policy. It has also carried out experimentation and research in leveraging open source intelligence and social media in tracking risk factors for violent extremism online under the Government of Canada's Kanishka initiative. SecDev currently manages the preventviolentextremism.info website that is an output of the research carried out under the Kanishka funding and subsequent rounds of support from Public Safety Canada.

In 2009 SecDev Group created a separate company, SecDev Cyber to focus on cybersecurity solutions and products.[8] In 2017, Secdev Cyber was relaunched as Zeropoint Security.

In 2017, John deBoer was elected as the managing director of SecDev Group. The group is currently managed by three principals: Rafal Rohozinski (chairman, and CEO of Zeropoint), John DeBoer (managing director), and Robert Muggah (director of research).