The 2024 Olympics’ unseen cyber competition

As the world focuses on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Australian organisations must brace themselves for a different kind of competition – one that takes place in the cyber arena. These games provide a prime target for cybercriminals and nation-state actors alike, aiming to exploit the massive global attention and the surge in digital interactions during the event.

In recent years, Olympic systems, athletes, and attendees have increasingly been the focus of cyberattacks. The 2021 Tokyo Summer Games alone saw 450 million attempted breaches, and with rising geopolitical tensions and the advent of AI-enhanced hacking techniques, the Paris Olympics are expected to see a tenfold increase in such threats.

Given the current geopolitical landscape, it's no surprise that global events like the Olympics are magnets for cyber threats. Australian organisations, whether involved in the games directly or indirectly, need to be particularly vigilant – whether they are managing on-the-ground operations or facilitating remote viewing from home.

Staying Ahead in the Cyber Game
For local (and indeed global) businesses and sports bodies, the key to surviving this cyber onslaught is real-time detection of network anomalies. However, a recent survey reveals a worrying trend: one in three organisations couldn't detect a breach in the past year, and only 25% could respond in real-time. In Australia, those numbers are a bit higher – 39% couldn't detect a breach, and 30% couldn't determine the root cause. This gap in cybersecurity preparedness could spell disaster if not addressed swiftly.

So, how can Australian organisations prepare for the rising cyber threats during and after the Olympics? Here are some crucial steps to consider.

Beware the Risks of Cloud-Based Streaming Services
In the age of on-demand entertainment, cloud-based streaming services like YouTube TV, Hulu, and others have become the norm. But with this convenience comes significant risk. While cloud services are designed to keep data safe through encryption, research shows that 93% of malware hides within encrypted traffic. Once inside, a cybercriminal can remain undetected, moving laterally within the network and potentially causing long-term damage.

For Australian businesses, the risks are particularly high when employees access these services from work devices or networks, especially during high-profile events like the Olympics. The temptation to stream the games live could lead to a dangerous breach if attackers manage to bypass traditional security measures.

Phishing attacks are a major concern. What might seem like a harmless link to an Olympic highlight could actually be a cleverly disguised attempt to infiltrate your network. This is especially concerning as AI-driven attacks become more sophisticated and harder to detect, even for seasoned cybersecurity professionals.

Strengthening Your Cyber Defences
As we navigate an era increasingly dominated by AI, there's been a hyper-focus on the technology's potential benefits while sometimes neglecting the basics of cybersecurity. For Australian organisations, now is the time to revisit these fundamentals, especially with the Olympics on the horizon. Ongoing education and awareness about cyber threats, such as Social Engineering, Phishing, Ransomware, and Distributed Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks, should be a priority.

Moreover, according to the same survey, seven of 10 Australian organisations reported suffering from blind spots in their hybrid cloud infrastructure, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. It's critical to implement real-time, network-derived intelligence that can monitor all data traffic, including encrypted and lateral movements within the network. Ensuring that existing tools are fully integrated and functioning efficiently is essential to closing these security gaps.

A New Mindset for a New Threat Landscape
Finally, it's crucial for Australian organisations to adopt a proactive mindset towards cybersecurity. The goal isn't just to prevent a breach but to respond swiftly and effectively if one occurs. By identifying suspicious traffic and reacting quickly, businesses can mitigate the potential damage, both in terms of cost and reputation.

The 2024 Olympics serve as a timely reminder that cybersecurity must remain a top priority, especially during high-profile events. Encryption in the cloud is a double-edged sword, and the only way to ensure your organisation's safety before, during, and after the games is to maintain 100% visibility into all data in motion.

As the world watches the athletes compete in Paris, Australian organisations must also be ready to play their part in the unseen cyber competition.