Sporting events and venues are increasingly attractive targets for cybercriminals. These organizations house a trove of valuable information, including attendee personal data, financial information, and intellectual property. They also rely on complex IT systems that are often interconnected with other networks, making them vulnerable to attack.

In recent years, there have been a number of high-profile cyberattacks on sporting events and venues. For example, in 2017, hackers targeted the FIFA World Cup by disrupting the tournament's website and social media accounts. In 2018, a ransomware attack on the Atlanta Braves' ticketing system caused widespread disruption. And in 2022, a cyberattack on the UEFA Champions League final forced the match to be delayed.

These attacks highlight the growing threat of cybercrime to the sporting industry. As the number of connected devices and networks at sporting events continues to grow, so too does the risk of attack.

In a recent report, Microsoft Cyber Signals highlighted the following cyber threats to sporting events and venues:

• Ransomware attacks: Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim's data and demands a ransom payment in order to decrypt it. Ransomware attacks are a growing threat to sporting events and venues, as they can disrupt operations and cause significant financial losses.
• Data breaches: Data breaches are another common threat to sporting events and venues. These breaches can expose sensitive information, such as attendee personal data, financial information, and intellectual property.
• DDoS attacks: DDoS attacks are a type of attack that floods a website or network with traffic, making it unavailable to users. DDoS attacks can be used to disrupt sporting events by taking down websites, ticketing systems, and other critical infrastructure.
• Social engineering attacks: Social engineering attacks involve tricking victims into giving up sensitive information or clicking on malicious links. These attacks are often used to target employees of sporting events and venues, as they have access to sensitive information.

To protect themselves from cyber threats, sporting events and venues need to implement a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. This strategy should include the following measures:

• Implementing strong security controls: This includes using strong passwords, implementing multi-factor authentication, and encrypting sensitive data.
• Training employees on cybersecurity: Employees should be trained on how to identify and report suspicious activity.
• Monitoring for threats: Organizations should use security tools to monitor for threats and vulnerabilities.
• Having a plan for responding to incidents: Organizations should have a plan for responding to cyberattacks, including how to restore operations and minimize damage.

The sporting industry is a target-rich environment for cybercriminals. By implementing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, sporting events and venues can protect themselves from these threats and keep their operations safe.

In addition to the above measures, sporting events and venues can also take the following steps to improve their cybersecurity posture:

• Use a managed security service provider (MSSP): An MSSP can provide 24/7 monitoring and incident response services, which can help organizations to detect and respond to threats quickly.
• Invest in security awareness training: Security awareness training can help employees to identify and report suspicious activity.
• Keep software up to date: Software updates often include security patches that can help to protect against known vulnerabilities.
• Segment networks: Segmenting networks can help to isolate critical systems and data from the rest of the network, making them less vulnerable to attack.