Security News > 2024 > July > Paris 2024 Olympics to face complex cyber threats
While previous Olympic games have faced cybersecurity threats, the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, also known as Paris 2024, will see the largest number of threats, the most complex threat landscape, the largest ecosystem of threat actors, and the highest degree of ease for threat actors to execute attacks, according to IDC. To defend against these attacks and avoid significant disruptions, IDC estimates that revenue from cybersecurity services in France will increase by $94 million in 2024 as a result of the Olympic Games, adding just over two percentage points to total cybersecurity services spending.
Paris 2024 will be the most connected games ever, including but not limited to back-of-house systems, financial systems, critical national infrastructure, city infrastructure, sport technology, broadcast technology, and merchandising and ticketing.
Outside of France, IDC expects security services revenue in the rest of Europe will increase by $57 million in 2024 as a result of the hosting of the Olympic Games in Paris.
"Cybercriminals are leveraging global sporting events like the Olympic Games to craft new targeted threats to businesses and citizens, knowing that their target is often distracted and more prone to social engineering," said Richard Thurston, research manager, European Security Services at IDC. "We can expect to see an unprecedented level of threats launched during the Paris Olympic Games supporting a variety of financial and political motives targeting not only the Olympic Games but also unrelated organizations," Thurston continued.
French organizations brace for Olympic cyber threats.
In the private sector, organizations in France are moderately well-prepared for the additional threats that will accompany the Olympics.