As the sporting industry continues to increase dependence on new and often massive data sets, they also risk exposing themselves, as well as the leagues, teams, venues, players, and fans, to risks posed by not protecting the confidentiality and integrity of this data. The industry, especially true for professional sports, demands an ever increasing supply of new forms of data to achieve their goals of enticing new fans; enhancing experience; expanding the fan experience from venues and television to the internet and mobile devices; measuring and evaluating the performance and safety of players; and increasing revenue. New methods have emerged to collect data about a variety of aspects of sports ranging from players to fans to teams to venues. Data collected during sporting events is combined with historical data to also help teams analyze and predict performance. To synthesize these predictive analytical and historical memories, sports teams and organizations mix a variety of computer technologies. System integration tends to focus on ensuring the availability of the data and reliability of the technologies but might introduce risks to the confidentiality (privacy) and integrity of the data. Recognizing the potential risks requires review and evaluation. Much of the data is collected for publicly providing information to the fans, so threats to confidentiality pose fewer risks. The greatest risk is violating the privacy of players, such a private performance test, or using technology to gain a competitive advantage.
During a playoff game, the visual boards throughout a sold-out stadium displays warnings to evacuate because of a hazardous situation, such as a fire inside the venue. Suddenly, spectators are panicked, stadium workers are confused, and the evacuation team designated by the venue begins the task of getting a large crowd out safely and effectively. The power then suddenly goes out amidst the evacuation efforts. This disconcerting event might have begun with a cyber attack on the systems controlling the stadium. A cyber attacker might have gained access to remotely controllable systems, possibly causing physical harm. With professional sports teams and stadiums becoming more and more connected through technology for an improved spectator experience, an increased need for cybersecurity is evident. Fans are susceptible to phishing scams through mobile applications, while remotely controlled systems are vulnerable to hacking. Public wireless networks are open to man-in-the-middle attacks. Professional stadiums may also be in close proximity to one another in large cities, leading to traffic management issues as well as network isolation concerns. If shared or wireless networking resources exist among more than one entity, propagation across the network may occur, leaving multiple venues open to malicious actors. Also, with the increased reliance on technological capabilities throughout sports, the integrity of the game can be negatively impacted. The integration of cyber into such aspects of the game as player performance and data analytics can leave teams within various leagues susceptible to cyber attacks.
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