Inside Google Cloud & Atlético de Madrid's Cyber Partnership

The speed and proliferation of technology adoption makes cybersecurity a top priority for organisations across all sectors and in all geographies.

The world of football is no exception. Modern football clubs are big business, with global influence, complex revenue streams and large volumes of sensitive data supporting their operations. 

At the same time, they increasingly rely on technology for things like ticketing, streaming matches, and managing stadium experiences and security. 

For malicious actors, this is an attractive opportunity that provides multiple network entry points and the potential to cause significant financial and reputational damage. 

This evolving landscape is at the heart of a collaborative relationship between Google Cloud and Spanish football club Atlético de Madrid, through which the pair strengthen the club’s cybersecurity posture, improve fan engagement and enhance performance analysis.

Protecting operational integrity

The two organisations have announced an extension of an existing partnership that began in 2024, with Google Cloud now recognised as the official cybersecurity partner across the club’s women’s and men’s teams. 

Since 2024, Google Cloud and Atlético de Madrid have worked together to explore innovative ways of enhancing the club’s cybersecurity. In particular, these efforts have focused on protecting sensitive data and maintaining the integrity of digital operations, including the security of Atlético de Madrid’s vast global fanbase.

Announcing this original commitment in 2024, Óscar Mayo, Chief Operating Officer at Atlético de Madrid said: "This collaboration will allow us to combine our passion and commitment to innovation with Google Cloud's expertise in cybersecurity and cloud solutions. For us, it will represent a quantitative and qualitative leap in the way we store and secure all data related to the physical activity, health and education of all our academy players."

"The ability that Google Cloud gives us to store and process all this generated data is extraordinary, but even more so is the confidence we have in being protected with the latest cybersecurity tools provided by Google Cloud Security."

Google Cloud has delivered seminars and workshops on cybersecurity best practice around data protection, strategic partnerships and fan security. 

It has also delivered personalised consultations and technologies to suit the specific needs of Atlético de Madrid and looked to leverage other Google Cloud services and products that may be beneficial to the club.

Beyond cybersecurity, the pair’s initial 2024 scope of work focused on collaboration around Google’s AI tools including the Vertex AI platform and Gemini models. 

This includes using AI to analyse player performance in real time, exploring how augmented and virtual reality can enhance fan experiences, and using Google Cloud to protect sensitive data and systems. 

Extending the partnership

By extending its partnership with Atlético de Madrid, Google Cloud is reinforcing its commitment to innovation and resilience in sport technology. 

Over the past few months, it has carried out analysis on the current threat landscape the club faces, investing in the application of best practices in cybersecurity awareness and resilience. 

Atlético de Madrid continues to face several key threats that could impact operations, reputation and fan trust, Google explains in a recent blog. These include:

• Data breaches and fan data protection: handling large volumes of personal data requires stringent protection to comply with regulations and prevent identity theft.
• Ransomware attacks: potential cyber attacks could impact critical operations including performance analysis, ticketing and fan technologies.
• Website and mobile app security: digital platforms are a critical touchpoint for fan engagement, but are vulnerable to DDoS attacks. 
• Phishing and social engineering: phishing attempts aimed at stealing credentials and financial data are a threat to players, staff and fans.

Delivering protection across these critical areas provides a seamless experience for fans, players and staff while also protecting Atlético de Madrid’s evolving digital infrastructure. 

“Sports clubs today operate in an increasingly digital world, making cybersecurity more important than ever," says Cristina Pitarch, Managing Director EMEA, Google Cloud Security. 

"Atlético de Madrid’s proactive approach sets a strong example for the industry. We’re excited to support their journey by sharing our expertise, exploring new challenges, and helping them build a secure foundation for the future."

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