How Cisco Tech is Enabling the NFL’s Global Expansion
The National Football League is America's most popular sports league, comprising 32 franchises that compete each year to win the Super Bowl, the world’s biggest annual sporting event.
Now, the league has announced an expansion of its partnership with networking hardware and software company Cisco, which will see Cisco’s enterprise networking and cybersecurity solutions used to support the NFL’s international games in 2024 and 2025.
Under the new arrangement, the NFL will utilise Cisco’s technology for its upcoming matches in São Paulo, London, Munich and Madrid. This builds upon an existing relationship between the two organisations, which began in 2021 when Cisco became the NFL’s Official Enterprise Networking Partner and its Official Cybersecurity Partner.
Networking and security solutions
The NFL’s international operations will leverage several of Cisco’s products. These include switching technology for networking, which allows for the connection of multiple devices on a computer network. The league will also use a combination of on-premises hardware and cloud-based software from Cisco’s security portfolio.
Specific solutions include Cisco Umbrella, a cloud security platform that provides protection against cyber threats, and Cisco XDR (Extended Detection and Response), a system that helps detect and respond to security incidents across an organisation’s network.
Gary Brantley, Chief Information Officer at the NFL, said: “Cisco has been a trusted partner of the NFL for many years, providing the networking and cybersecurity technology that we rely on to connect and protect our biggest events, as well as our daily operations.
“As we continue to expand our presence globally, Cisco’s proven track record in delivering on the biggest stages, in constantly evolving, digital environments, allows us to execute with confidence.”
Track record of success
The partnership between the NFL and Cisco has already shown results. At Super Bowl LVIII in February 2024, Cisco's integrated security deployment successfully blocked 39,000 security intelligence events and 354,000 connections to or from blacklisted areas of the world. This ensured 100% network uptime for the event.
Rob McQueen, Vice President of Global Sponsorships at Cisco, said: “The NFL International Games presents an enormous opportunity for the NFL, so we are proud to be the partner they trust to deliver the connectivity and security required to operate globally.”
- NFL using Cisco's networking and cybersecurity solutions for international games
- Key Cisco Technologies: Enterprise networking solutions, cybersecurity products (Cisco Umbrella, XDR, Firepower, Secure Malware Analytics)
- Super Bowl LVIII Performance: Blocked 39,000 security intelligence events, prevented 354,000 connections from blacklisted areas, achieved 100% network uptime
Beyond the international games, Cisco’s technology is deeply integrated into NFL operations. Every NFL stadium’s replay control room is built on Cisco technology and connected to the Art McNally Gameday Central in New York via a Cisco network. Additionally, nearly all of the league’s official partners and two-thirds of NFL stadiums rely on Cisco technology.
Expanding international reach
The NFL’s use of Cisco technology for its international games aligns with the league's broader strategy to expand its global presence. In addition to games in Brazil, the UK, Germany and Spain, Cisco also sponsored the inaugural NFL Flag European Continental Series. This event featured girls’ under-14 national champions from Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain and Spain.
Gary Brantley said: “Failure is not an option in these dynamic, high-pressure environments, and Cisco technology continues to deliver for the biggest leagues, teams, events and stadiums everywhere.”
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