Cyber security in professional sports
The global sports industry, projected to generate over $700 billion in 2026, is becoming an appealing target for cyber criminals due to its vast revenues and rapid digital transformation. From health monitoring technologies for athletes to the integration of smart technology in stadiums, the industry’s expanding digital footprint increases its vulnerability to cyber attacks like ransomware, data breaches, and even threats to physical safety.
Many sports entities lack the expertise and resources to counteract these threats. The world of sport has a pressing need for heightened cyber security awareness and proactive measures to ensure the safety and longevity of the sports sector in our increasingly connected, digital world.
The aim of this report is to help organisations and individuals involved in the world of sport to understand their levels of cyber security vulnerability and exposure against the ever-evolving technology and threat landscape. Moreover, this report aims to signpost sports organisations and sportspeople to pragmatic advice and guidance on how to minimise their cyber security risks, helping to preserve brand reputation, confidentiality, integrity and availability of data, IT and other connected systems and assets.
This report is underpinned by qualitative and quantitative research performed by a team of researchers from the University of Oxford’s Researcher Strategy Consultancy, in collaboration with global cyber security and risk mitigation experts NCC Group, and Phoenix Sport & Media Group. Interviews were held with key personnel involved in managing IT and cyber security in the world of sport; non-exhaustively this included insight from personnel working in professional football, rugby, Formula 1 racing, horseracing, cricket and tennis.
Tackling cyber threats in the sporting world
"The world of sport is therefore highly connected, the complexity of which hugely increases the attack surface and opportunity for financial based attacks such a ransomware or business fraud, data protection violations through data breaches (deliberate or accidental) and in the realm of connected stadiums and automated barriers, the potential for impact on physical safety where those mechanisms might fail accidentally or through deliberate cyber attack."
"In this report, we are looking to drive awareness of cyber security and the importance of being more proactive and less reactive to cyber-attacks in professional sport. We want to help sports teams, venues and individuals build a sustainable industry that can cope with the ever-increasing and evolving digital world in which we live. By building awareness and helping to drive action, we can ensure sports organisations, venues and events remain available, accessible, safe and secure in the face of pervasive cyber threats."
What you'll learn:
In this whitepaper,
- We combine our own threat intelligence with research from a team with the University of Oxford's Researcher Strategy Consultancy and insights from the award-winning cyber education and training company, Phoenix Sport & Media Group.
- We provide examples and outline common themes around fraud and serious financial and operational impact to sports organisations following cyber attacks.
- We summarise key cyber threats and likely attacker motives in the world of sport.
- We list various approaches to build a stronger cyber security posture for sports organisations.
You'll find valuable recommendations for improving individual and company-wide security, data protection horror stories, and in-depth context into the state of cyber security in the modern sporting industry.
This paper also compiles common themes, findings and observations taken from one-on-one interviews with peers working in the highest levels of professional sports. Get the inside scoop on some of the most pressing issues in the industry, like struggling with resource contraints and board awareness, over-reliance on cyber insurance, ransomware attacks, a lack of integrated physical and cyber security controls, and third-party due diligence.
How can NCC Group help secure your franchise?
Our global experts level the playing field and turn security into a competitive advantage with decades of cyber security and risk mitigation experience. Download the whitepaper and reach out to our team to learn more about what NCC Group is doing to build a safer, more resilient future for the sports industry.
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As global experts in cyber security and risk mitigation, NCC Group is trusted by over 14,000 customers worldwide to protect their most critical assets from the ever-changing threat landscape.