Cisco and McLaren Racing have announced an expansion of their partnership to incorporate Cisco security solutions. … [+]
Cybersecurity is a major concern for all organizations, but it takes on an enormous importance for major professional sports organizations, who are responsible not only for the safety and privacy of their own data, but also for the integrity of high-profile events that attract millions of viewers around the world.
As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated, partnerships with leading technology companies are critical, and Cisco has played a key role in protecting the networks and data of some of the world's most prestigious sports organizations, including the NFL.
Cisco and McLaren Racing have announced an expansion of their global partnership to incorporate Cisco security solutions, providing the team comprehensive network visibility, enhanced threat intelligence and streamlined security management across network operations.
Rising Cyber Threats in Professional Sports
Professional sports organizations face unique and sophisticated cyber threats. The combination of high-value data, extensive media coverage and diverse stakeholder involvement makes these organizations attractive targets for cyber attacks. Events such as the Super Bowl and Formula One races are particularly attractive to cybercriminals due to their global reach and the vast amounts of data generated and transmitted during the events.
I spoke with Tomas Maldonado, CISO for the NFL, who said the NFL is always a target because of its brand. Football is the most-watched sport in the United States, and the NFL has a large fan base. He also noted that as the NFL continues to expand its presence, hosting international games in the UK and Germany and considering other countries, it is becoming a more global target.
Cisco's role in protecting McLaren Racing
McLaren Racing, the legendary Formula 1 team, relies heavily on Cisco security solutions to protect its operations both on and off the track.
Daniel Keyworth, McLaren Racing's Director of Business Technology, highlighted the importance of the partnership: “Cisco has been a trusted partner for us for many years. Although we formalised our relationship in 2022, we have been a long-standing Cisco customer for many years prior to that.”
He added: “We have delivered highly intelligent networks to 24 Formula 1 races around the world, as well as our headquarters and power technology centre in Woking.”
McLaren leverages Cisco Secure Firewall and Cisco Extended Detection and Response (XDR) to efficiently monitor, detect, and respond to threats, empowering the team with an AI-enhanced threat detection and automated response system that allows them to stay focused on their main goal – racing.
“We use Cisco Secure Firewall, which allows us to monitor intrusions and traffic into the McLaren perimeter, so we can detect incoming threats and respond automatically,” Keyworth said.
Ensuring safety at high-profile events
The NFL's relationship with Cisco has played a pivotal role in ensuring security for some of the most watched events in sports, including the Super Bowl. Cisco's infrastructure is integral to the operation of many NFL stadiums, and the company's security tools are essential during major events. For the past several Super Bowls, Cisco technology has helped protect the extensive network infrastructure needed to broadcast and manage these events.
Maldonado spoke about the scale of the operation during the Super Bowl: “During the last Super Bowl, Cisco Secure Firewall with Cisco Talos blocked approximately 39,000 security intelligence events and 254,000 connections to and from blacklisted areas.”
The NFL also relies on Cisco's advanced threat detection and response capabilities, which are critical in an environment where threat actors are constantly evolving their tactics. The league begins preparing for these events 12 to 18 months in advance, thoroughly evaluating and deploying Cisco technology to ensure robust security measures are in place.
The Importance of Cybersecurity Partnerships
Cisco's partnerships with organizations like McLaren Racing and the NFL demonstrate the critical role that cybersecurity plays in the success and safety of professional sports. Jeetu Patel, executive vice president and general manager of Security and Collaboration at Cisco, emphasized that these partnerships are built on trust, innovation and a shared commitment to protecting valuable data and ensuring the integrity of major sporting events.
Patel explained: “Our technology portfolio works across a dynamic global environment to help achieve meaningful outcomes and deliver powerful impact for McLaren Racing through collaboration and partnerships. We believe our broad range of security solutions will help accelerate the story and highlight why Cisco provides businesses with the confidence and insight they need to operate securely.”
As cyber threats continue to evolve, so will reliance on advanced security technology and strategic partnerships. Ensuring the safety and integrity of their operations is of paramount importance to professional sports organizations, and Cisco is committed to providing them with the tools and expertise they need to defend against the ever-present cyber threat landscape.
