As the world eagerly anticipates the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, organisers are bracing themselves for an unparalleled challenge in cybersecurity. With the specter of organised crime, activist groups, and hostile states looming large, the Games, scheduled from July 26 to August 11 for the Olympics and August 28 to September 8 for the Paralympics, are expected to face immense pressure from potential cyber threats.

Paris 2024, in collaboration with the French National Agency for Information Security (ANSSI) and cybersecurity firms Cisco and Eviden, is diligently working to mitigate the impact of potential cyber attacks. Vincent Strubel, the director general of ANSSI, acknowledged the inevitability of attacks but emphasized the importance of limiting their impact on the Games.

Strubel expressed confidence in Paris 2024’s preparedness, highlighting the extensive testing conducted on the 500 sites, including competition venues and local collectives. The Games will be monitored from a cybersecurity operation center located in a confidential location, ensuring swift response to any incidents.

Ethical hackers have been enlisted to stress test the systems, while artificial intelligence plays a crucial role in identifying potential threats. Franz Regul, managing director for IT at Paris 2024, underscored the significance of AI in distinguishing between minor disturbances and catastrophic events.

With cybersecurity events expected to increase tenfold compared to the Tokyo Games in 2021, Eric Greffier, head of partnerships at Cisco, emphasized the rapid evolution of cyber threats, necessitating proactive measures.

The looming shadow of past incidents, such as the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games cyber attack orchestrated by a computer virus named “Olympic Destroyer,” underscores the gravity of the current cybersecurity challenge. While attribution remains a sensitive issue, Strubel refrained from naming potential attackers, deferring that responsibility to the state.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent remarks expressing concerns about potential malevolent targeting by Russia further highlight the heightened state of alert surrounding the Paris Olympics. Against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions, including Russia’s conflict in Ukraine and Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, Paris 2024 stands at the forefront of cybersecurity readiness, aiming to ensure the safety and integrity of the upcoming Games.

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