As the world eagerly anticipates the return of major in-person events, one question looms large: how do we ensure these high-profile gatherings are safe from cyber threats? The lessons learned from securing some of the world's largest cyber events offer invaluable insights for building robust cybersecurity strategies.
Fending Off State-Sponsored Attacks
High-profile events have long been a target for state-sponsored hackers looking to disrupt and sow chaos. The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics saw a prime example, with Russia-backed actors allegedly deploying the Olympic Destroyer malware in an attempt to sabotage the games' digital infrastructure. And the UK's National Cyber Security Centre reported that Russian hackers also had their sights set on disrupting the 2020 Tokyo Olympics before they were postponed.
Lessons in Network Lockdown
These incidents underscore the need for event organizers to take a proactive, multilayered approach to cybersecurity. As Cisco's Talos threat intelligence team has emphasized, comprehensive mitigation strategies must be in place to address all forms of potential interference, including vulnerabilities in IoT systems that could be exploited.
Empowering the Security Team
Securing these high-stakes events also requires empowering the security teams on the ground. As Cisco's own experience at the Cisco Live Melbourne conference demonstrated, providing security teams with the latest tools and threat intelligence can enable them to effectively detect, investigate, and respond to a wide range of cyber threats.
The bigger picture here is that the lessons learned from securing the world's biggest cyber events offer a roadmap for any organization looking to build resilience against emerging threats. By taking a proactive, collaborative approach and leveraging the right technologies and expertise, event organizers and businesses alike can be better prepared to withstand even the most sophisticated attacks.