Keeping the Show Running: Understanding Cyber Security for Major Events (Based on NCSC Guidance)
Imagine the Olympics, a major music festival, or even a large political gathering. These major events are thrilling, bringing people together and creating lasting memories. But behind the scenes, a massive amount of technology powers everything from ticketing and security to broadcasting and communication. And all that technology makes these events a tempting target for cyberattacks.
That’s why the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) provides guidance on cyber security for major events. Published on May 8th, 2025, this guidance (as per the information you provided) likely builds upon previous iterations and offers updated best practices for organizations planning and executing these complex undertakings.
Let’s break down what cyber security for major events entails and why it’s so critical, based on what we can logically infer from NCSC’s likely focus.
Why are Major Events Targets for Cyberattacks?
Major events are attractive targets for several reasons:
- High Visibility & Reputation Damage: A successful cyberattack can cause significant embarrassment and reputational damage to the event organizers, sponsors, and the host city or country. This is a prime motivation for hacktivists and nation-state actors.
- Financial Gain: Cybercriminals might target ticketing systems, payment processing, or merchandise websites to steal financial data or disrupt operations and demand ransom.
- Disruption & Chaos: An attack could disrupt vital services like transportation, communication, power, or security, causing widespread chaos and impacting public safety. Imagine a stadium’s turnstiles failing during a packed event!
- Espionage & Intelligence Gathering: Nation-state actors might try to infiltrate event networks to gather intelligence on attendees, sponsors, or participating organizations.
- Protest & Disruption of Narrative: Hacktivists might target the event to disrupt the flow of information or promote their own agenda.
Key Areas of Focus for Cyber Security at Major Events (Based on NCSC principles):
While the exact content of the May 8th, 2025 guidance would be available on the NCSC website, here’s a breakdown of likely key areas based on general cyber security best practices and previous NCSC guidance:
1. Governance and Risk Management:
- Establish a Clear Cyber Security Strategy: Define clear objectives, responsibilities, and lines of authority for cyber security throughout the event planning and execution phases.
- Risk Assessment & Management: Identify potential threats and vulnerabilities, assess their impact, and implement appropriate mitigation measures. This includes considering supply chain risks, as many vendors are involved.
- Incident Response Plan: Develop a detailed plan for responding to cyber security incidents, including procedures for detection, containment, eradication, and recovery. Practice this plan regularly.
- Third-Party Management: Ensure all vendors and contractors involved in the event adhere to appropriate cyber security standards. This includes contracts specifying security requirements and regular audits.
2. Secure Event Infrastructure:
- Network Segmentation: Divide the event network into distinct segments to limit the impact of a security breach. For example, separate the Wi-Fi network for spectators from the critical infrastructure network.
- Robust Perimeter Security: Implement strong firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, and other security measures to protect the network perimeter.
- Secure Configuration: Configure all systems and devices securely, following industry best practices. This includes changing default passwords, disabling unnecessary services, and keeping software up to date.
- Regular Security Audits & Penetration Testing: Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in the infrastructure.
3. Data Security:
- Data Minimization: Collect only the data that is absolutely necessary for the event and retain it only for as long as required.
- Data Encryption: Encrypt sensitive data both in transit and at rest to protect it from unauthorized access.
- Access Control: Implement strong access control policies to restrict access to sensitive data to authorized personnel only. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible.
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Implement DLP tools to prevent sensitive data from leaving the organization’s control.
4. Secure Mobile Technologies:
- Mobile Device Management (MDM): Implement MDM solutions to manage and secure mobile devices used by event staff and volunteers.
- Secure Wi-Fi: Provide secure Wi-Fi access for attendees and staff, using strong encryption and authentication protocols. Consider limiting bandwidth to prevent denial-of-service attacks.
- Application Security: Ensure that all mobile applications used for the event are secure and free from vulnerabilities.
5. Communication & Awareness:
- Cyber Security Awareness Training: Provide comprehensive cyber security awareness training to all event staff, volunteers, and contractors. This should cover topics like phishing, social engineering, and password security.
- Incident Reporting: Establish a clear process for reporting suspected cyber security incidents.
- Public Communication: Develop a plan for communicating with the public in the event of a cyber security incident. Transparency and clear communication are crucial.
6. Supply Chain Security:
- Vendor Assessment: Thoroughly vet all vendors involved in the event to ensure they have adequate cyber security practices in place.
- Contractual Agreements: Include security requirements in contracts with vendors.
- Monitoring: Continuously monitor vendors’ security performance.
Likely Updates in the 2025 Guidance:
Given the evolving cyber threat landscape, the 2025 guidance would likely emphasize the following:
- Increased Sophistication of Attacks: Addressing the growing sophistication of ransomware, supply chain attacks, and state-sponsored espionage.
- Emerging Technologies: Providing guidance on securing emerging technologies like AI, 5G networks, and cloud-based services used in major events.
- IoT Security: Addressing the security risks associated with the increasing use of IoT devices in event infrastructure, such as smart lighting, security cameras, and transportation systems.
- Misinformation & Disinformation: Highlighting the importance of protecting the event from disinformation campaigns and social media manipulation.
- Zero Trust Architecture: Encouraging the adoption of a Zero Trust security model, which assumes that all users and devices are potentially compromised and requires continuous verification.
Conclusion:
Cyber security is an essential component of planning and executing any major event. By following the guidance from organizations like the NCSC and implementing robust security measures, event organizers can minimize their risk of a cyberattack and ensure a safe and successful event for everyone. Staying informed and proactively adapting to the evolving threat landscape is paramount to maintaining a strong security posture. Always refer to the official NCSC guidance for the most up-to-date and accurate information.
Cyber security for major events
The AI has delivered the news.
The following question was used to generate the response from Google Gemini:
At 2025-05-08 11:32, ‘Cyber security for major events’ was published according to UK National Cyber Security Centre. Please write a detailed article with related information in an easy-to-understand manner. Please answer in English.
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