Large-scale events such as the Olympics, FIFA World Cup and international summits bring together vast digital ecosystems spanning infrastructure, ticketing, broadcasting, mobile apps and third-party services. Their high visibility make them prime targets for cyber adversaries, ranging from opportunistic hackers to sophisticated nation-state actors. Attacks on these events can lead to broadcast outages, data breaches and reputational damage on a global scale.
Securing such events requires more than just deploying firewalls and antivirus software. It demands early planning, layered defenses, continuous monitoring and active collaboration across organizations. The following guide outlines how to transform these security principles into real-world protection.
1. Start with Early Risk Assessment and Coordination
Effective protection begins with identifying the systems that matter most. Event organizers should build a digital asset inventory months in advance. This includes everything from the accreditation system and scoring platforms to public Wi-Fi, surveillance cameras and third-party ticketing vendors.
Practical steps:
- Categorize systems by impact: Which systems, if disrupted, would halt the event?
- Engage stakeholders early, including broadcasters, venue IT teams and cloud vendors.
- Simulate potential attack scenarios: a compromised timing system, ransomware in registration servers, or phishing targeting volunteers.
- Conduct penetration testing and architectural reviews well ahead of event time.
Early risk analysis lays the foundation for targeted investments, proactive defense and smoother collaboration with vendors and government partners.
2. Design with Security at the Core
Security should be embedded into the infrastructure from the very beginning. It’s far easier and more cost-effective to design secure systems from the outset than to retrofit them weeks before a high-profile launch.
Implementation strategies:
- Segment networks: Separate administrative systems, media networks, public Wi-Fi and critical operations (e.g., timing or broadcast control). This helps contain threats.
- Harden systems: Apply secure configurations using CIS benchmarks. Disable default accounts, change default credentials and turn off unnecessary services. Default credentials can lead to serious security incidents.
- Manage third-party risk: Require vendors to comply with security standards (like multi-factor authentication and vulnerability management), and assess their readiness through security questionnaires or audits.
Security-by-design ensures that the infrastructure can resist common threats while remaining flexible enough to scale during the event window.
3. Build a Defense-in-Depth Strategy
One layer of security is never enough. High-profile events require layered defenses to prevent, detect, and respond to threats in real time.
Key controls:
- DDoS protection: Deploy mitigation services on all public-facing assets. Use cloud-based solutions that can scale under heavy load.
- Endpoint detection: Install advanced endpoint protection (EDR/XDR) on critical workstations and servers.
- Application allow-listing: On systems such as scoring consoles or timing computers, restrict programs to approved software only.
- Patch and freeze: Apply critical patches well in advance, then freeze changes before the event to minimize risk of last-minute failures.
These measures not only block attackers but also help security teams detect anomalies early, such as unauthorized logins, spikes in outbound traffic or suspicious processes.
4. Secure Communication Channels
Event teams, athletes and support staff need to communicate securely across borders and networks. Unsecured channels expose sensitive data and operational details to adversaries.
Recommendations:
- Encrypt sensitive data both in transit and at rest.
- Use VPNs for administrative access, especially when traveling or accessing from untrusted networks.
- For high-risk events, consider “burner” devices with minimal functionality and no personal data.
Secure communications are essential for protecting data integrity and confidentiality.
5. Real-Time Monitoring and Threat Intelligence
Once the event begins, continuous monitoring is critical. A centralized Security Operations Center (SOC) should track all systems, detect threats and coordinate response.
Operationalize this with:
- SIEM tools to aggregate logs and detect anomalies.
- Threat intelligence feeds from government agencies, CERTs and private firms.
- 24/7 staffing with incident response teams onsite and remote analysts ready to escalate.
- Daily threat briefings for key partners, especially vendors and telecom operators.
Cyber threats evolve quickly, so security teams must adapt in real time, identifying and neutralizing issues before they escalate into full-scale disruptions.
6. Test and Execute the Incident Response Plan
Resilience isn’t just about having backups. It’s about having the right people, plans and tools ready to act once an incident is detected.
How to make it real:
- Develop playbooks for likely attack scenarios (e.g., DDoS on a streaming platform).
- Define roles: Who speaks to the media? Who informs law enforcement? Who triggers failover systems?
- Test recovery procedures: Restore a compromised system from backup, or switch to manual fallback modes such as printed check-in lists or analog scoring boards.
- Include legal and privacy officers in simulations to prepare for regulatory reporting obligations like GDPR’s 72-hour breach notification.
7. Plan for Continuity in Crisis
Despite best efforts, things can go wrong. Cyberattacks, power outages, and software failures are always a possibility. The goal is not just prevention, but continuity.
Build resilience through:
- Offline backups of critical data (schedules, scores, credentials).
- Manual fallbacks: Use printouts or offline apps for timekeeping and access control if systems fail.
- Redundant internet connections to key sites like stadiums and control rooms.
- Distributed authority: Ensure that no single point of failure can paralyze operations.
When the unexpected happens, the best-prepared teams are those practice how to respond in advance.
Additional considerations to take care of include aligning cybersecurity efforts with industry standards and regulations such as ISO/IEC 27001, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, and GDPR to ensure consistency, build trust and reduce compliance risks. Collaboration is also essential. Establish joint security command centers, use secure communication channels and share intelligence with vendors, law enforcement, and CERTs to enable faster, more effective responses. Finally, conduct a thorough post-event review to document incidents, assess response effectiveness, update policies and apply lessons learned strengthening resilience for future events.
Cybersecurity as an Operational Discipline
Global events present complex, high-value targets for cyber attackers. But with proactive planning, layered defenses, secure communications and practiced incident response, they can be protected. Success depends not just on deploying the right tools but on treating cybersecurity as an operational discipline embedded into every decision from site selection to final whistle.
When technology, teams, and trust align, even the world’s most visible events can proceed with confidence no matter what threat actors throw at them.
