Paris 2024 is confronting a formidable cybersecurity challenge as the Games approach, with organizers anticipating an unprecedented barrage of attacks. Criminal groups, activists, and nations pose significant threats to the event, which runs from July 26th to August 11th for the Olympics and August 28th to September 8th for the Paralympics. In collaboration with ANSSI, Cisco, and Eviden, Paris 2024 has implemented comprehensive security measures to safeguard the Games. Vincent Strubel, Director General of ANSSI, acknowledges that while preventing all attacks may be impossible, the organizers aim to minimize their impact on the sporting event. Extensive testing of over 500 sites, venues, and local collectives has been conducted. The cybersecurity operation center, operating from an undisclosed location, will serve as the central hub for monitoring and response. Paris 2024 has employed ‘ethical hackers’ to conduct stress tests and utilizes artificial intelligence to triage threats. Franz Regul, Managing Director of IT at Paris 2024, highlights the significance of AI in distinguishing between minor annoyances and potential catastrophes. The organizers expect a tenfold increase in cybersecurity incidents compared to the 2021 Tokyo Games. Eric Greffier, Head of Partnerships at Cisco, emphasizes that the rapid evolution of cybersecurity requires a constantly evolving approach. In 2018, the ‘Olympic Destroyer’ virus disrupted the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Games, with six Russian intelligence agency hackers later indicted for a series of attacks. While officials refrain from identifying specific potential attackers, they acknowledge the complex global backdrop, including geopolitical conflicts, which may influence the threat landscape.
Paris 2024 Braces for Unprecedented Cybersecurity Threats
